The container ship Seaspan Benefactor paid around $4 million for priority transit through the Panama Canal — more than double the average price paid at such auctions during the previous week.

The reason is growing congestion. Due to the crisis in the Middle East, some cargo flows are being redirected to alternative routes, putting additional pressure on the Panama Canal.

Neopanamax vessels may now wait around 10 days for transit — the longest waiting time since May.

The situation is further complicated by draft restrictions caused by lower water levels, as well as scheduled maintenance works.

The Panama Canal allows shipping companies to bid for priority transit slots at auction and move ahead of the regular queue. Today, the price of such urgency is already measured in millions of dollars.

For the shipping market, this is another reminder: disruptions on one major trade route can quickly affect others, leading to longer queues, higher transportation costs and less predictable delivery times.

When planning shipments, it is once again worth building in extra time and closely monitoring developments along key shipping routes.