Panama Canal Slots Return but Grain Ships Steer Clear

Panama Canal slots are allocated by user ranking, booking period, and auction, and dry bulk cargo usually sits at the back of the queue. Tom Beney, Senior Vice President of Ocean Freight at StoneX, explains how ships secure transit slots and what happens when El Niño changes the plan. Period three slot auctions open close to arrival, and a ship that misses a booked period two slot forfeits its fee and pays a cancellation charge. Because the locks run on freshwater from Gatun Lake, El Niño rainfall shortfalls can cut slot numbers and draft limits, pushing grain buyers toward U.S. West Coast and Atlantic origins that avoid the canal. Discover Actionable Insights with StoneX Market Intelligence: https://shop.stonex.com/collections/all?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sxtv_guest_tom_beney&utm_content=share 00:00 - Panama Canal Runs on Rainfall 01:45 - Canal Slots Favor Big Regulars 03:40 - Bigger Ships Pay for Big Locks 04:50 - Missed Canal Slots Cost Twice 06:49 - El Niño Threatens Gatun Lake 08:33 - Auction Bid or a Costly Wait 09:52 - Canal Waits Once Hit 45 Days 10:50 - Grain Trades Turn From Panama Like and subscribe for more financial market insights. #PanamaCanal #StoneX #TomBeney #DryBulk #ElNino --------- Like this video? Subscribe and turn on notifications so you don't miss any videos from StoneX: https://www.youtube.com/@StoneX_Official Visit https://www.stonex.com/en/insights/thought-leadership/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social for insights, perspectives and thought leadership from StoneX's global network of experts. Visit our website: https://www.stonex.com?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social