Abstract
The "Suez shift" of Asia-US east coast container route is progressing, and the Panama Canal will be expanded within several years. After the expansion, whether the Panama Canal path will regain lost ground or not will be the large influence on Japan, which is the nearest Asian country to the Panama Canal.
Against this background, this study calculated the container volume ratio of Panama/Suez Canal path, analyzed the cause of "Suez shift" and estimated the container volume ratio after the expansion. The conclusions of this study were as follows: (1) the cause of the "Suez shift" were the differences of TEU capacities and tolls of the canal transiting ships, (2) the container volume via the Panama Canal would increase about 20% if TEU capacities of vessels which passes each canal would be the same level after the expansion.
