January’s cargo volumes hit record levels at the expanded Panama Canal.
The waterway’s authority ACP said the figure of 36.1m Panama Canal tons (PC/UMS) was the best ever for a single month.
A total of 1,260 ships passed through the expanded and original locks.
The previous record was set in December last year at 35.4m PC/UMS. Transits were 1,166.
"This increase reiterates the importance of the expanded canal, and it's further proof of the maritime industry’s continued confidence in the Panama Canal and the impact it will have on the future of global trade," said administrator Jorge Quijano.
Before the canal was widened, the record was 30.4m PC/UMS in October 2014.
Another milestone will be reached in April, when the first neo-panamax cruiseship will travel through the new locks.
This size of vessel is defined as carrying up to 4,000 passengers, nearly twice as many as the waterway could handle previously.
