This is due to an increase in transit fees to container ships and passenger vessels larger than 30.000 tons.

Regarding the reduction in traffic, a study by the Panamanian Economy Ministry detailed that "the most affected route was U.S.-Asia, with a 10% decrease. In 2008, the monthly average for this route was 25.9 million net tons, while it was 24.7 million in 2009".

Source: Capitales.com

More on this topic

Suez Canal Cheaper than Panama Canal

March 2013

The company Maersk Line has restructured its service between Asia and the U.S., using the Suez Canal rather than the Panama Canal, mainly for reasons of profitability.

This was the justification given by Sobren Skou, chief executive of the company, in a statement to The Australian Financial Review.

Revenue Grows at Panama Canal

April 2010

In the first quarter of 2010 the Canal netted $359.7 million in revenue, 3.1% more than the same period of 2009.

The Economy and Finance Ministry (MEF) reported that revenue increased despite a 4% drop in the number of vessels passing through the Canal.

MEF explained that fewer vessels carried more cargo due to more efficient use of available space.

Income from canal toll increases 9.2%

October 2009

The revenue derived from the Canal toll increased 9.2% compared to the fiscal year of 2008.

In 2009 the revenue from the Canal toll ammounted $1.4 million. The previous year the total revenue was $1.3 million.

Wilfredo Jordán wrote for Prensa.com: "The growth in the revenue is very close to the projection, that was 10%.

Panama Canal earnings increase by 14%

October 2008

'For the first time, the Canal has surpass $2 billion in earnings,' said Aleman Zubieta, Canal Authority administrator.

Compared to 2007, when income totaled 1.76 billion dollars, there was an increase of 14%.
Just the toll segment alone added up to $1.32 billion, an increase of 11.3% compared to the previous year.