The Panama Canal is one of the world’s most important shipping routes. For nearly 120 years, the 51-mile stretch of water has connected the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, in 10 hours without navigating the entirety of South America. However, the future of the shipping route is uncertain after record droughts forced operators to that can pass through.

Since it opened in 1914, is essential for the global economy, especially when it comes to goods traveling from the U.S. to China. However, as a result of record droughts in the region.

Lower water levels forced the Panama Canal Authority (PCA) to impose a reduction in the number of vessels that can transit its locks each day. The number of daily transits to 32 to 30 per day, compared to the usual 36 to 34 transits each day. CNN reports:

“This reduction in vessel transits will allow the PCA to conserve enough water to postpone the water depth restrictions which would impact how much freight a vessel can carry. Restrictions were expected to start Sunday, June 25, which would equate to an approximate 40% drop in cargo on some containerships.”

This isn’t a new phenomenon, as CNN reports that the “canal has been battling drought conditions for years.” And drought conditions have only gotten worse.Droughts such as the ones facing Panama today were once thought of as being once-every-five-year-events. Now, once every three years as a result of rising global temperatures.

It’s hoped that the reduction in traffic in the canal will allow the PCA to postpone a planned cap on the weight of vessels that can transit the canal. Authorities proposed a 40 percent reduction in cargo on ships looking to pass through the canal, which was set to come into force Sunda (June 25).

Despite the delay, many ships on the canal are already running lighter. Some vessels were loaded in Asia weeks ago, and were already filled to meet the 40 percent reduction in loads. This drop, coupled with the reduced flow of ships through the canal are all likely to see shipping costs rise again.