The canal was run for years at no-profit. The Panamanians always dreamed of the day they would own the canal and make millions off the whole operation. Now that they have control and realize the cost of running the whole thing...the whole of idea of profit has actually gone out the front door. They are simply trying to make enough money to keep the thing up to date and in operation. You must remember that almost every major change or upgrade to the canal...came out of the US pocket and not out of tolls. The Panamanians are discovering that too.