THE Panama Canal has posted a 3.6 per cent increase in annual throughput year on year to 333.7 million Panama Canal Tons (PC/UMS), a figure which also surpassed the 2007 record of 312.9 million PC/UMS.

The Panama Canal ton, or PC/UMS, is a unique tonnage measurement based on ship capacity and applied to containerships, tankers and bulk carriers alike.

 "This milestone attests to the reliable and continuous service offered by the canal," said recently appointed Panama Canal Authority Administrator and CEO Jorge Luis Quijano.

 The top market segments during this fiscal year, ending October 1, were full containerships totalling 119.8 million tons, followed by dry bulk carriers (83.4 million tons) and tankers (51.6 million tons).

(Source:shipping online)