The administration of the Panama Canal has presented a ten-year strategy: With investments of more than €7.4 billion, the ACP also wants to develop the waterway into a regional logistics and energy hub.
The administration of the Panama Canal (ACP) presented a comprehensive “roadmap” for the next ten years. With this program, the operator of the waterway wants to secure its role in global trade, operate more sustainably and at the same time increase the benefits for Panama. The focus is on two strategic pillars: Water security through additional storage capacities for drinking water supply and operations, and sustainable growth through diversification of business areas and expansion of transportation capacities without additional water consumption. In this way, ACP intends to gradually develop the 82 km long waterway into a regional logistics hub.
7.44 billion investment over the next ten years
Investments of the equivalent of more than € 7.44 billion are planned for implementation. Plans include the construction of the Río Indio reservoir, which will supply over 1 million people with water and at the same time increase the reliability of canal transits. Another major project is the interoceanic energy corridor with a 76 km pipeline and two terminals for handling up to 2.5 million barrels of energy products per day.
According to the canal operator, 45,000 jobs will be created during the construction phase and a further 11,000 during operation. The life cycle value of the project is estimated at around €60 billion. Additional revenue of over €32.6 billion is expected to be generated for the national budget by 2050. In addition, the Corozal port is to be built on the eastern side of the canal and integrated into a logistics platform consisting of road and rail connections. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2028.
According to the ACP, the additional revenue will enable higher transfers to the state, which in turn will flow into social programs. All projects would be implemented in dialog with the affected communities. In the case of the Río Indio reservoir, talks are already underway with local residents to ensure investment in infrastructure, education, health and jobs. Greater involvement of local suppliers and training programs for skilled workers are also part of the concept.
The energy corridor is scheduled to be awarded in the second quarter of 2026. The process includes international prequalification and technical dialog with potential investors. Initial study results for the Corozal port project are expected in early 2026. With the new ten-year strategy, the canal administration not only wants to ensure the competitiveness of the waterway, but also drive forward Panama’s economic and social development.
Transit figures recover after drought period
Following the restrictions due to the drought in 2023 and 2024, the Panama Canal has recorded significantly higher transit figures again this year: Container ships and Neo-Sub-Panamax units saw particularly strong growth. In the first quarter of the 2025 fiscal year (October 2024 to January 2025), 4,042 ships passed through the waterway. This represents an increase of 25% compared to the previous year, but is still around 10% below the long-term average, as some shipping companies prefer alternative routes.
From January to May 2025, container transport reached a new high: more than 1,200 transits were counted in both directions. This represents growth of 10.2% compared to the previous year and an increase of 4.1% compared to the previous record year of 2022.
