El Niño drought to raise Caribbean import costs, cut Panama Canal transits through 2027

The Caribbean Private Sector Organisation warns that the prolonged El Niño drought will reduce Panama Canal cargo transits, raising landed costs and thinning inventories for CARICOM importers through 2027. The claim is based on CPSO analysis, not yet corroborated by canal authority data. This signals sustained supply-chain disruption and inflationary pressure for the region.