MINERALS IN THE WORLD ECONOMY 9 
 
PANAMA AND SUEZ CANALS 
 
 The Panama Canal reported overall increases in activity during both 1978-79
(fiscal years ending September 30 of each year), 
both in terms of the number of vessels transiting the canal and in terms
of the amount of cargo moved—both mineral commodities and other
commodities
as shown in the following tabulation: 
 
 
 
 
Fiscal year' 
 
 
1977 
1978 
1979 
Number of transits: 
 
 
 
Commercial ocean traffic                                   Other traffic
                                            
 
 Total                                                 
 
Cargo moved: 
Commercial ocean traffic: 
11,896 
1,191 
12,677 
1,131 
12,935 
1,427 
 
13,087 
13,808 
14,362 
 
 
 
 
Mineral commodities thousand metric tons_ — 
Othercommodities do~__ 
r66,195 
r58,758 
83,614 
61,191 
90,082 
66,503 
 Subtotal do~~ 
Othertraffic do.._..._ 
124,953 
219 
144,805 
304 
156,585 
 370 
Total do____ 
125,172 
145,109 
156,955 
TRevised 
 
 Year ending September30 of that stated. 
 
 At the end of fiscal year 1979 (September 30), the legal status of the canal
area altered markedly, as the Panama Canal Zone ceased to exist, after 65
years of operation of the canal. 
 In fiscal year 1979, mineral commodities accounted for 57.5% of all commercial
ocean traffic through the Panama Canal, a 
 
slightly smaller share than the 57.7% of fiscal year 1978, but greater than
the 53.0% share accounted for by minerals in fiscal year 1977. 
 The following tabulation distributes mineral commodity trade through the
canal during 1977-79 by major group: