The Canal Authority has started a process of measuring and analyzing the current and projected demand for the inter-oceanic route in order to determine when to start the expansion.

The Panama Canal Authority has already formed a group of experts to carry out analysis and technical studies for the future expansion of the Canal, which will depend directly on the behaviour of demand over the next few years. In the first year of operation, vessels larger than those initially planned have passed through the third set of locks. At the moment, according to Jorge Luis Quijano, the third set of locks generates 32% of revenues.

Regardless of the demand studies that are being carried out, the construction of a fourth set of locks will depend on several factors, the most important being the availability of water.