PANAMA CITY (Reuters) -The Panama Canal said on Thursday that lawmakers in the Central American nation had approved the proposed budget for the key global freight channel for the 2025/26 fiscal year, which is expected to bring an increase in state contributions.

For the October to September period, lawmakers backed a $5.21 billion budget for the canal, which is expected to bring $3.19 billion to state coffers, up 14.5% from the level set out in the prior year’s budget, the canal authority said.

Last week, the canal forecast a $3.5 billion profit for the fiscal year ending in September. The canal has said it expects less transits next year due to global economic instability.

The now-approved budget includes provisions for some of the canal’s planned investments, it added, including its p

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