Bulk cargo drives 2pc Panama Canal tonnage growth in FY2014
CARGO tonnage passing through the Panama Canal rose by two per cent to 326.8 million tons during fiscal year 2014 which ended on September 30, up from 320.6 million tons in FY 2013.
Bulk carriers contributed most to the growth, with volumes up 18.2 per cent year on year to 85.9 million Panama Canal universal measurement system (PC/UMS) tons, reported American Journal of Transportation.
The dynamic movement of bulk through the Panama Canal in the last year is attributed to the surge in grain cargo flows from the US Gulf to Asia.
Other top market segments during this fiscal year included car carriers with 45.8 million tons and gas carriers with six million tons, which rose 6.7 per cent and 24.2 per cent, respectively.