Coverage of Panama’s corporate world, markets, startups, and trade developments. We provide news, analysis, and practical insights for business leaders and entrepreneurs.
Traffic through the Panama Canal is rising, and auction prices for transit slots are climbing as shipping lines compete for access. The trend highlights the canal’s enduring importance to global trade and Panama’s economy.
Shipping companies are rerouting vessels through the Panama Canal as tensions around the Strait of Hormuz disrupt global trade. Some are paying up to $4 million for passage as Panama benefits from the added traffic.
Shipping companies are looking more closely at the Panama Canal as geopolitical tensions raise the cost and risk of alternative routes. The canal’s role as a global trade shortcut gives Panama a strategic advantage when carriers seek reliability.
Panama City’s importance in global trade began long before the canal, with its geography turning it into a commercial crossroads for centuries. That legacy still shapes the capital’s role in Panama’s economy today.
Excel Panamá has launched the Nissan Magnite in Panama, highlighting fuel efficiency, safety technology, and a five-year warranty. The compact SUV enters a crowded market with a focus on practicality and connected driving features.
Shippers are paying up to $4 million to cross the Panama Canal as tension around the Strait of Hormuz pushes businesses to rethink global trade routes. The pricing surge highlights the canal’s continued importance as a strategic alternative for international commerce.
Panama Canal transit fees for some oil shipments have risen sharply as Japan moves to import more U.S. crude. The change highlights the canal’s key role in global energy trade.
ENSA has scheduled preventive maintenance on its electrical network from April 27 to May 3, 2026, with temporary interruptions possible in specific areas. Customers can check if their NAC is affected through the utility’s interruptions portal.
Fundación Sus Buenos Vecinos has rebranded as Fundación Banco General to mark 30 years of social work in Panama. The organization says its mission remains focused on education, inclusion, and community support.
Japan’s move to increase U.S. oil imports is sending more tanker traffic through the Panama Canal, helping drive up transit fees. The shift highlights the canal’s role in global energy trade and Panama’s exposure to changing shipping patterns.
The Panama Canal is seeing a traffic surge as shipping disruptions elsewhere push vessels toward Panama, with some operators paying up to $4 million for expedited passage. The spike underscores the canal’s role as a vital global trade route.
Panama City’s global importance did not begin with the canal. Its role as a trade crossroads predates the waterway and helps explain the capital’s long commercial significance.
Businesses are paying up to $4 million for priority Panama Canal crossings as global trade disruption drives intense demand for non-reserved slots. The surge underscores the canal’s importance to world shipping.
Panama registered 84,067 labor contracts in the first quarter of 2026, up 16,923 from the same period in 2025, according to MITRADEL. The increase points to stronger hiring activity in the formal job market.
Cobre Panamá is moving forward with a hiring process aimed at creating 1,000 direct jobs, with a focus on Panamanians in nearby communities. The effort highlights the project’s local economic impact and demand for skilled workers.
Cobre Panamá is advancing a hiring process tied to its preservation and safe management plan, with more than 1,300 people already hired and 1,000 more direct jobs projected. Most positions are going to residents of nearby communities in Coclé and Colón.
The Star Princess visited the Panama Canal, highlighting the country’s continuing role in global cruise travel and maritime tourism. The stop reinforces the canal’s appeal as a signature experience for international passengers.
Panama’s mining debate is shifting toward economic recovery, with growing attention on jobs, public revenue and environmental safeguards. The conversation now centers on how to reopen responsibly rather than whether development and protection can coexist.
The IMA is staging agro-fairs across Panama this Monday, with rice sold at $5 and other low-cost food items available from 8:00 a.m. The events are aimed at helping families save on essential groceries.
Panama City’s municipality has launched an online portal for residents to report suspected construction irregularities. The initiative comes as building activity rebounds and city officials seek stronger urban oversight.