Coverage of Panama’s corporate world, markets, startups, and trade developments. We provide news, analysis, and practical insights for business leaders and entrepreneurs.
Panama’s Budget Commission approved a $1.2M transfer enabling the Maritime Authority to hire specialized legal counsel to review and update port concession contracts amid transparency concerns.
Panama joined Bahrain, Japan, Singapore and the UAE in a joint proposal to create a safe corridor to free about 20,000 seafarers stranded in the Gulf region, seeking a coordinated, humanitarian solution to disrupted crew changes.
EIN Presswire reports Panama missed a deadline to operate major Panama Canal ports, deepening a dispute over control of the facilities and raising questions about trade and governance.
Law360 reports that Panama missed a deadline in a dispute involving canal ports; details are sparse but the procedural lapse could speed legal or operational consequences.
Panama and Germany strengthened economic ties at a high-level meeting focused on logistics, the Panama Canal and investment opportunities, highlighting the SEM regime and existing German corporate presence.
gCaptain reports an increase in LNG shipments through the Panama Canal as shippers reroute to avoid disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, raising operational and economic implications for Panama.
Iran attacked Gulf energy sites after the Pars gas field was hit, striking Qatar’s Ras Laffan and prompting missile interceptions in Saudi Arabia, pushing oil prices higher.
Acodeco has warned that a government bill mandating ethanol-blended gasoline may violate constitutional protections, harm competition and leave consumers facing equipment and warranty risks.
President Trump issued a 60-day waiver of the Jones Act to allow foreign ships to move fuel between U.S. ports, aiming to stabilize petrol costs amid oil disruptions from the Strait of Hormuz blockade.
Panama’s Cabinet approved a decree on March 18, 2026, allowing the Ministry of Economy and Finance to seek up to $12 billion in financing to cover the State’s liquidity needs. The move gives the MEF authority to arrange funding, with details on instruments and timing to follow.
Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission has urged the stock exchange to tighten listing and compliance rules after reviewing 2024 cases involving internal controls, auditor resignations and listing processes.
After U.S. tariffs on “Liberation Day” in April 2025 rattled markets, Indonesia, Malaysia and Cambodia negotiated reciprocal trade agreements with Washington to lower tariffs and restore access.
Tim Cook visited an Apple Store in Chengdu on March 18 amid Apple’s 50th anniversary events while the company’s COO met key suppliers, signaling continued reliance on China’s manufacturing ecosystem.
Saudi Arabia has opened a Red Sea ‘Plan B’ using Yanbu to route crude around the closed Strait of Hormuz, allowing some VLCCs to avoid the chokepoint amid ongoing regional conflict.
FreshPlaza reports that disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have pushed some shipping traffic toward the Panama Canal, increasing transits and raising operational and economic considerations for the waterway and Panama.
At a Panama–Germany Economic Meeting, officials and business representatives highlighted investment and logistics cooperation, noting German business activity in advanced manufacturing and pharmaceuticals in Panama.
Hutchison has intensified criticism of Panama in a port terminal dispute, alleging unconstitutional actions, a “radical occupation,” and improper seizure of investor documents, raising concerns about foreign investment.
Port Technology reports a recent surge in inspections of Panama-flagged vessels at Chinese ports, a development with potential operational and reputational consequences for ship operators and Panama’s registry.
Cosco Shipping Ports posted modest 2025 gains — net profit up 1.1% to US$312.1m, revenue up 11% — and said it expects only a limited impact from the Iran conflict while eyeing expansion in emerging markets.
Hong Kong’s labour chief says Middle East tensions have made the city more attractive to international professionals, praising government recruitment efforts and disputing claims that most successful applicants are from mainland China.