From The Telegraph via Yahoo Finance, December 13:
Drought in the Panama Canal could make finding Chilean or Californian wines in the supermarkets more difficult in the new year, experts have said.
The Panama Canal Authority has been restricting the number of vessels allowed through the 51-mile waterway since summer, after a drought began to affect the lock system.
Wines produced in Chile and California are often transported via the canal.
While several retailers reassured The Telegraph that the delays will not reduce wine supplies before Christmas, experts voiced concern that shelves could be more sparse by January.
Marco Forgione, director general of the Institute of Export & International Trade, said people could be forced to change their drinking habits as a result.
He explained: “The UK could be in for a dry January next month, whether we choose to partake in the annual challenge or not. Because of global shipping delays, supplies of our favourite Californian chardonnays and Chilean merlots, which make their way to us via the Panama Canal, could be badly affected.
“Given the UK is the second biggest importer of wines in the world, the second biggest global market for US wine and the third biggest for Chilean, the impact of delays along all parts of the supply chain could be profound.”....
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