date:Jun 27, 2016
Exporters think this week's opening of an expanded Panama Canal will help keep costs low and New Zealand produce competitive.
The canal expansion will almost triple the capacity of ships using it.
Sending goods overseas is already relatively cheap because a worldwide glut of shipping has depressed freight costs, and exporters believe economies of scale from having larger ships using the canal will help keep the rates low.
The Panama Canal has beein widened and deepened and bigger locks have be