Panama Canal revenue has risen 10 to 15 percent as oil tankers reroute away from the Strait of Hormuz amid the Iran conflict. The shift highlights the canal’s role as a key alternative in global shipping.
Dominican President Luis Abinader will travel to Panama to deliver the keynote address at the World Free Zones Congress. The event underscores Panama’s role as a regional hub for trade and investment discussions.
Panama’s public payroll has increased by 4,768 workers and $28.2 million per month since Mulino took office, deepening fiscal pressure. Education, Social Security, and Security are among the biggest drivers of the state wage bill.
The Panama Canal posted 7,444 high-draft transits through April of fiscal 2026, up 5.1% from a year earlier. Growth was led by LNG, oil tankers and stronger Neopanamax container traffic.
Panama has confirmed its first imported measles cases since 2011 and is monitoring hundreds of contacts to prevent local spread. Health officials are urging vaccination as measles surges across the Americas.
Unachi rector Etelvina de Bonagas called for calm and unity as pressure grows over budget cuts and prior nepotism sanctions at the university. Other public cases also kept attention on accountability and oversight in Panama.
Panama’s state payroll keeps rising, with monthly wage spending up $28 million in less than two years. The trend highlights deeper concerns about fiscal pressure, private-sector weakness, and the size of government employment.