Panama port activity  beats pandemic – up 7.5% 

Port activity was one of the few sectors in the Panama economy that did not come to a standstill during the pandemic despite the measures adopted to control the spread of the coronavirus.

The port system, made up of six terminals, mobilized 2,900,435 TEU (unit equivalent to 20 feet long) during the first quarter, according to the preliminary registry of the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP).

Compared to the first quarter of 2020, in the first three months of this year, there was a growth of 7.5% or 146,347 TEU. If it is related to the first quarter of 2019, the growth is almost 500,00. TEUs.

On the Atlantic side, the four port terminals reported positive figures: Colon Container Terminal of the Taiwanese Evergreen, mobilized 191 TEU with a growth of 5.9%; Manzanillo International Terminal (MIT) moved 712,030 TEUs or 5% growth in the first three months; while the port of Cristóbal, operated by Panama Ports Company, had 284,286 TEU or 3% growth; and Bocas Fruit, 31,372 TEU.

On the Pacific side, the Balboa port, which is also managed by the Panama Ports Company, handled 589,668 TEUs, or an increase of 24.4%. On the contrary, the port of PSA Panama International Terminal that operates in Rodman reported 282,077 TEU, a decrease of 6.1% in relation to the first quarter of last year.