Ports
Panama Canal Names First Female Administrator as Challenges Grow
Panama's President Jose Mulino announced the appointment of Ilya Espino de Marotta as the first female administrator of the Panama Canal, effective October 1, 2026. A marine engineer with 35 years at the canal, Espino de Marotta assumes leadership amid surging traffic—with an 8 percent year-over-year increase in daily transits and a 16 percent increase in the past five weeks—driven by Middle East disruptions and rising U.S. energy exports. The canal currently operates near maximum capacity with average waiting times of 47 hours and auction prices reaching record $4 million per slot.
