Nikkei learned about a 74 increase in shipments via the Panama Canal%

Transportation of oil and petroleum products through the Panama Canal increased by 74% in April 2026 compared to the average level in 2025. This was reported by the Nikkei newspaper on May 12.

It is noted that the reason for this is the disruption of traffic flows as a result of the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. In April, up to 1.77 million barrels of oil and petroleum products were transported daily through the canal, which became an absolute record since the beginning of statistics in 2013.

The main traffic flow is from the east coast of the United States to Asian countries, which are facing a sharp decline in supplies from the Persian Gulf. Thus, the supply of oil and petroleum products via the Panama Canal to Japan has increased more than fivefold compared to the level of 2025.

The contract is more expensive: OPEC+ decided to increase production despite the blockade of Hormuz

How will this decision affect the oil price and why will it be problematic to implement it?

Bloomberg reported on May 9 that global oil reserves are rapidly declining amid the conflict in the Middle East and restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant part of oil supplies from the Persian Gulf were previously carried out. It clarifies that global visible oil reserves have already approached minimum levels since 2018.