The congestion at the Panama Canal is so bad that one shipper paid $2.4 million to jump a line and get through the waterway: report

• The Panama Canal has been hit by a serious drought this year, causing long transit times for ships.
• A shipper recently paid $2.4 million for a winning bid to jump the queue, according to one energy shipping firm.
• The congestion is closely watched because the canal is a key route for the US ahead of the holiday season.

The congestion at the Panama Canal has gotten so bad that a shipper paid millions just to beat the queue, according to a company that uses the waterway.