Corn
Cotton
Grains
Livestock
Oilseeds
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Soybeans
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Ethanol
Hogs
Soybean Meal
Soybean Oil
Commitments of Traders
European River Levels Dashboard
US Crop Conditions
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US Export SalesGatun Lake Water Levels, Panama Canal
Water Level Transportation Indicators
Our Gatun Lake water level chart provides essential data for Panama Canal shipping and agriculture. The visualization presents daily historical lake level measurements alongside seasonal patterns and official Panama Canal Authority (ACP) projections. Gatun Lake's level determines the maximum authorized transit draft for Panamax and Neopanamax vessels, so the projected draft limits section below shows how forecast lake levels translate into draft restrictions and surcharge percentages. Water levels are recorded in feet, the convention used by the ACP. Data is sourced from the official Panama Canal Authority EVTMS reports with daily updates.
Projected Transit Draft Limits
Gatun Lake level (delayed 60 days): 84.06 ft as of 2026-08-15
| Projected Date | Projected Level (ft) | Surcharge (%) | Max Neopanamax Draft (ft) | Max Panamax Draft (ft) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-17 | 85.80 | 17 | 50.0 | 39.5 |
| 2026-10-18 | 85.80 | 17 | 50.0 | 39.5 |
| 2026-10-19 | 85.80 | 17 | 50.0 | 39.5 |
| 2026-10-20 | 85.80 | 17 | 50.0 | 39.5 |
| 2026-10-21 | 85.90 | 16 | 50.0 | 39.5 |
| 2026-10-22 | 85.90 | 16 | 50.0 | 39.5 |
| 2026-10-23 | 85.90 | 16 | 50.0 | 39.5 |
| 2026-10-24 | 85.90 | 16 | 50.0 | 39.5 |
| 2026-10-25 | 85.90 | 16 | 50.0 | 39.5 |
| 2026-10-26 | 85.90 | 16 | 50.0 | 39.5 |
| 2026-10-27 | 85.90 | 16 | 50.0 | 39.5 |
| 2026-10-28 | 85.90 | 16 | 50.0 | 39.5 |
| 2026-10-29 | 85.90 | 16 | 50.0 | 39.5 |
| 2026-10-30 | 85.90 | 16 | 50.0 | 39.5 |
The official maximum Panama Canal transit drafts are communicated via Advisories to Shipping. The projected maximum drafts shown above are estimates for reference purposes only.
Series
This data set is part of the following subjects:
