巴拿马运河管理局局长Ricaurte Vasquez日前在接受媒体采访时表示，伊朗持续的冲突可能会导致巴拿马运河的通行量增加，因亚洲能源买家寻找替代的液化天然气（LNG）供应来源。

The director of the Panama Canal Authority, Ricaurte Vasquez, said in an interview with the media recently that the ongoing conflict in Iran might lead to an increase in the traffic volume of the Panama Canal, as Asian energy buyers are seeking alternative sources of liquefied natural gas (LNG).

他表示，如果中东冲突持续，亚洲国家可能会转而从美国采购液化天然气，以替代卡塔尔供应。美国船运商可能会利用巴拿马运河来缩短前往亚洲的航线，以抵消不断上涨的燃料成本。

He said that if the conflict in the Middle East persists, Asian countries might turn to purchasing liquefied natural gas from the United States instead of relying on Qatar's supply. American shipping companies might utilize the Panama Canal to shorten the shipping route to Asia, in order to offset the rising fuel costs.

“亚洲市场在短期内将不得不寻找替代来源，以取代来自卡塔尔的液化天然气供应，具体取决于这场冲突持续的时间，”他表示。“我们应该会从中受益，而且我们有能力这样做，因为我们有足够的水域供船舶通行。”

"The Asian market will have to find alternative sources in the short term to replace the liquefied natural gas supply from Qatar. The extent of this will depend on the duration of the conflict," he said. "We should benefit from this, and we have the ability to do so because we have sufficient waterways for ships to navigate."

伊朗冲突已经导致霍尔木兹海峡航运几近中断，全球第二大液化天然气生产国卡塔尔停产，而卡塔尔的LNG出口中，约80%流向亚洲市场，日本、韩国和印度等国是主要出口目的地。

The conflict in Iran has nearly brought the shipping in the Strait of Hormuz to a halt. Qatar, the world's second-largest producer of liquefied natural gas, has halted production. Of Qatar's LNG exports, approximately 80% are destined for the Asian market, with Japan, South Korea and India being the main export destinations.

巴拿马运河是一条人工开凿的水道，连接太平洋与大西洋。这条水道大幅缩短了美国东海岸到亚洲的航程，是全球贸易与能源运输的关键要道之一。

The Panama Canal is an artificial waterway that connects the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean. This waterway significantly shortens the voyage from the east coast of the United States to Asia, and is one of the key routes for global trade and energy transportation.

由于遭遇严重干旱，巴拿马运河在2023年和2024年曾限制船舶通行（下调船舶吃水深度），但此后由于降雨充足已恢复正常。本财年（始于去年10月）以来，运河每日均允许船舶以50英尺满吃水深度通行。

Due to severe drought, the Panama Canal restricted vessel traffic (lowering the vessel draft) in 2023 and 2024. However, since adequate rainfall has occurred since then, it has returned to normal. Since the current fiscal year (beginning in October last year), the canal has allowed vessels to pass with a 50-foot draft every day.

Vasquez表示，预计今年剩余时间运河将维持50英尺的最大吃水深度。“在今年剩余的时间里，我们预计不会出现供水方面的任何问题。”他说道。

Vasquez stated that the canal is expected to maintain a maximum draft of 50 feet for the remainder of this year. "We do not anticipate any water supply issues during the remainder of this year," he said.

巴拿马雨季通常从4月开始，持续至11月。

The rainy season in Panama usually begins in April and lasts until November.

Vasquez表示，目前运河每天通行约34艘船舶，有能力将通行能力提升至38艘，以满足液化天然气运输商的额外需求。

Vasquez stated that currently, the canal allows approximately 34 ships to pass through each day, and it is capable of increasing the capacity to 38 ships to meet the additional demands of liquefied natural gas transporters.

他还表示，运河管理局将于下月启动一项价值16亿美元的液化石油气（LPG）管道项目的招标，该管道计划于2031年投入使用。

He also said that the Canal Authority will launch a tender for a $1.6 billion liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) pipeline project next month. The pipeline is scheduled to come into use in 2031.