--- title: Congestion at the Panama Canal Hits Annual High, Triggering Jones Act Waivers description: Discover why CIF shipments may expose you to risks and costs, and learn how FOB/EXW with MTF offers better control, visibility, and protection. image: https://news.mtflogistics.com.au/hubfs/Celebrates-Eighth-Expansion-Anniversary.jpg --- [Skip to content](https://news.mtflogistics.com.au/mtf-logistics-pty-ltd-blog/congestion-at-the-panama-canal-hits-annual-high-triggering-jones-act-waivers#main-content) ![](https://news.mtflogistics.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Celebrates-Eighth-Expansion-Anniversary.jpg?width=1280&height=856&name=Celebrates-Eighth-Expansion-Anniversary.jpg) # Congestion at the Panama Canal Hits Annual High, Triggering Jones Act Waivers ![Daniel](https://app.hubspot.com/settings/avatar/d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e) Daniel June 15, 2026 ![HKYmlxwbcAAPYje](https://442310841.fs1.hubspotusercontent-ap1.net/hub/442310841/hubfs/HKYmlxwbcAAPYje.jpg?width=1200&length=1200&name=HKYmlxwbcAAPYje.jpg) Congestion at the Panama Canal has risen to the highest levels this year. As a result, the US is granting multiple Jones Act waivers for domestic shipments. Congestion may worsen due to the looming El Niño risks and scheduled maintenance. The Panama Canal Authority has planned a dry chamber overhaul from June 9-17, which will reduce daily transit slots to 16 from the operational capacity of 36-40. Wait times have equally climbed to 3.2 days for southbound traffic and 2.3 days for northbound vessels. Average waiting periods have increased by 50% year-on-year to reach 47 hours. The growing backlog at the Panama Canal has compelled the US Maritime Administration to issue Jones Act waivers. The waivers allow foreign-flagged ships to transport goods between US ports. 21 waivers have been granted to vessels destined for the West Coast. The Jones Act or the Merchant Marine Act of 1920 requires that ships transporting goods between US ports must be US-built, US-owned, and US-flagged. Congestion will make shipping operators think about alternative routes, such as the Cape of Good Hope, that will come with longer voyages and higher bunker costs. ## Share this post [mailto:https%3A%2F%2Fnews.mtflogistics.com.au%2Fmtf-logistics-pty-ltd-blog%2Fcongestion-at-the-panama-canal-hits-annual-high-triggering-jones-act-waivers](mailto:https%3A%2F%2Fnews.mtflogistics.com.au%2Fmtf-logistics-pty-ltd-blog%2Fcongestion-at-the-panama-canal-hits-annual-high-triggering-jones-act-waivers) ## Keep reading ### [![](https://news.mtflogistics.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/21.jpg?width=6720&height=4480&name=21.jpg) Australia Working to Double Horticulture Exports](https://news.mtflogistics.com.au/mtf-logistics-pty-ltd-blog/australia-working-to-double-horticulture-exports) ### [![](https://news.mtflogistics.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/20-1.jpg?width=6000&height=3000&name=20-1.jpg) Australian Exports to Iraq Post a 97.5% Drop in Q2](https://news.mtflogistics.com.au/mtf-logistics-pty-ltd-blog/australian-exports-to-iraq-post-a-97.5-drop-in-q2) [MTF Logistics](https://www.mtflogistics.com.au/) [Sea Freight](https://www.mtflogistics.com.au/sea-freight/) [Air Freight](https://www.mtflogistics.com.au/air-freight/) [Customs Clearance](https://www.mtflogistics.com.au/customs-clearance/) [Freight Forwarding](https://www.mtflogistics.com.au/freight-forwarding/) [Guides](https://www.mtflogistics.com.au/category/freight-logistics-insights/) [Get a Quote](https://www.mtflogistics.com.au/start/) ## About MTF Logistics MTF Logistics is an owner-managed freight forwarder based in North Sydney, operating since 2014. We handle [sea freight](https://www.mtflogistics.com.au/sea-freight/) (FCL and LCL), [air freight](https://www.mtflogistics.com.au/air-freight/), [customs clearance](https://www.mtflogistics.com.au/customs-clearance/), export documentation and project cargo through Port Botany, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Fremantle, with delivery Australia-wide. Call 1300 710 683 or [get a quote](https://www.mtflogistics.com.au/start/). ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Daniel", "url" : "https://news.mtflogistics.com.au/mtf-logistics-pty-ltd-blog/author/daniel" }, "dateModified" : "2026-06-15T12:48:17.998Z", "datePublished" : "2026-06-15T12:48:17.000Z", "headline" : "Congestion at the Panama Canal Hits Annual High, Triggering Jones Act Waivers", "image" : [ "https://news.mtflogistics.com.au/hubfs/Celebrates-Eighth-Expansion-Anniversary.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://news.mtflogistics.com.au/mtf-logistics-pty-ltd-blog/congestion-at-the-panama-canal-hits-annual-high-triggering-jones-act-waivers", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject" } } } ```