For more than 100 years, the Panama Canal has improved global commerce, transportation and connectivity, enabling growing opportunities for countries around the world. The waterway currently serves 140 routes, connecting 1,700 ports and 160 countries.

The main user of the Panama Canal is the U.S., which represents about 67 percent of the total cargo moving through the waterway. China is the second most frequent user of the Panama Canal, representing about 16 percent of the total cargo that transits the Panama Canal, followed by Mexico, Chile and Japan, among others.

In terms of cargo tonnage percentage, the main routes are between the East Coast of the U.S. and Asia, the East Coast of the U.S. and the West Coast of South America, the East Coast of the U.S. and West Coast of Central America, Europe and the West Coast of South America and between Asia and the East Coast of Central America.

The Panama Canal welcomed its 5,000th Neopanamax vessel through the waterway in December 2018.

The Maritime Executive