The Panama Canal Authority said a record amount of tonnage passed through the waterway during fiscal year (FY) 2021, a milestone driven in large part by liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargoes, which saw the largest increase.

“LNG is not only growing the fastest, but it has had its best year in terms of tonnage through the canal,” said Deputy Administrator IIya Espino de Marotta. 

The authority said 516.7 million tons moved through the locks, up 8.7% from FY2020 and 10% above the tonnage registered in pre-pandemic FY2019.

LNG carriers registered a 31.4% increase in tonnage through the Panama Canal, “representing the largest gain across all segments,” the authority said. LNG in January also had set new annual records for total tonnage and transits in addition to monthly...