Cargo record for Canal –333m tons

Due to Latin American growth

More than 333 million tons of cargo passed through the Panama Canal last year, representing a new record due to the economic growth of Latin American countries.

This was announced by the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) administrator, Jorge Quijano.

“We are refining the numbers in terms of revenue but in terms of tonnage we are closing (fiscal 2012 from October 1, 2011 to September 30 this year) at 333.7 million tons, which is more than the 322 million tonnes a year ago,” said Quijano.

“The challenge we had was 332 million tonnes and we have overcome it,” said Quijano.

This figure indicates that “the Canal was no longer solely dependent on the world’s major economies as (…) the United States and Europe and is maintained with good tonnages due to the growth of the economies of Latin America.”

In FY 2011, the US was the main channel through which clients transported 144 million tonnes, followed by China (53 million tons), India (28 million) and Japan (22 million).

Besides Chile there were Peru (15.2 million), Colombia (14.7 million), Ecuador (14.5 million), Mexico (12.2 million), Panama (12 million) and Venezuela (9.3 million tons), which are the main users of the waterway.