U.S. Ag Exports Hampered By Lingering Drought In Panama

Several of America’s soybean fields may not be as parched as they’ve been the past couple of seasons, but the continued lack of rain in Panama is still impacting exporters’ ability to ship the commodity to customers.  Mike Steenhoek of the Soy Transportation Coalition says capacity along the Panama Canal has improved from last fall, but is still 25 percent below normal.

As a result, grain shipments are finding themselves not able to traverse the canal.  Steenhoek attributes this to a pair of factors.

Mike Steenhoek of the Soy Transportation Coalition notes that investment in improving port facilities along the West Coast, notably Grays Harbor, Wash., can provide an additional route for U.S. soy exports.