C.H. Robinson’s September 2026 Ocean Shipping Freight Market Update (published Thursday, 3 September 2026) says capacity on paper is available for Asia–U.S. moves in September, but execution risk is rising because of Chinese port congestion after typhoons, blank sailings, inland bottlenecks, and Panama Canal constraints. Descartes data cited in the same update put July U.S. import volumes at 2.51 million TEUs, with China-origin imports up 7.2% to 873,129 TEUs — the highest monthly China-origin level in a year.
On the canal, Robinson states the waterway remains open but with reduced draft allowances and fewer available Neopanamax transit slots in September. The maximum authorised draft for Neopanamax vessels was scheduled to decline to 48 feet on 2 September. A further reduction to 47.5 feet, originally planned for 3 September, was postponed until 1 October. Beginning in September the canal is also reducing available Neopanamax transit slots, which could increase waiting times for vessels without secured reservations.
Robinson notes ocean carriers may respond by reducing vessel utilisation, introducing surcharges, or restricting heavy containers on specific services — decisions that vary by carrier, vessel and sailing. The canal has not imposed a general weight limit on individual containers, but boxes with heavy commodities (machinery, industrial equipment, chemicals, liquids, timber, pulp and paper) may need to be lightened, split or moved to another service when lower draft limits apply. Robinson also links firmer Asia–U.S. East Coast rates partly to canal restrictions, blanks and reduced capacity, and advises shippers to confirm canal use, surcharges, weight acceptance and alternatives before treating a booking as secure.