Research firm Wood Mackenzie expects lengthy delays to the anticipated Panama Canal expansion to impact the coal, liquefied natural gas and petrochemical industries.
Significant disruptions will limit profitability for US LNG producers, create a tighter shipping market and affect the US Gulf Coast petrochemical industry. On the other hand, US coal producers are set to benefit considerably from the expansion once it is complete.
Andrew Buckland, Senior LNG Shipping Analyst at Wood Mackenzie, said: “If the delays last 6 –12 months, it will have limited impact, as trade will carry on much as it does now, but further delays threaten the investments of a significant number of groups that are set to benefit from expanded capacity on the waterway.”
