Coverage of national economic trends, policy decisions, and indicators that affect everyday life. We provide analysis of fiscal policy, employment, and growth drivers.
CMA CGM has added a Cork port call to its PANAMA DIRECT service, expanding direct shipping links between Europe and Panama and offering more routing options for shippers.
Reuters reports the Panama Canal will allow uninterrupted ship transits during planned maintenance from March through September, aiming to keep shipping schedules steady despite work.
The Panama Canal will allow uninterrupted ship passage during planned maintenance from March through September, a move aimed at minimizing disruption to shipping and trade.
An ongoing conflict involving Iran is disrupting shipping, manufacturing and agricultural inputs, raising concern that global food supplies and prices could be hit, with knock-on effects for Panama and Latin America.
New fuel rates took effect in Panama on March 20, 2026: 95-octane gasoline rose 20 centavos/liter, 91-octane 18 centavos/liter, and diesel 30 centavos/liter, prompting many motorists to fill up Thursday night.
Panama Canal Authority chief Ricaurte Vásquez said the canal is operating at top capacity with 36–38 daily transits, and that the Iran conflict has boosted LNG vessel traffic through the waterway.
Reuters reports the Panama Canal is at top capacity with 36–38 daily transits as the Iran war lifts LNG vessel traffic, pressuring scheduling and trade flows.
Panamanian authorities have rejected claims by a unit of CK Hutchison that they ignored an arbitration process, after the company filed an administrative petition urging reconsideration of an executive decision.
At the EU-Central America Forum 2026, Panama’s foreign minister demanded removal from “discriminatory lists,” urging reciprocity from the EU while highlighting a $1.2B EU pledge for regional infrastructure.
New gasoline prices in Panama took effect March 20, with increases up to about 30 centavos per liter. Telemetro also reports ACODECO has sanctioned a gas station.
China will add 12 commercial banks to its e-CNY system as it moves the digital yuan from a cash alternative toward an interest-bearing deposit instrument, part of a wider push in the five-year plan.
Russian Urals crude has risen sharply amid the US‑Israel conflict with Iran, potentially benefiting Russia and other producers while posing wider implications for fuel and shipping costs in Panama and Latin America.
Panama’s Ministry of Economy and Finance released a payment calendar for disbursements in the second half of March 2026, providing timing guidance for government payments.
Panama Canal chief Ricaurte Vasquez said the waterway is operating at top capacity with 36–38 transits per day, driven in part by increased LNG vessel traffic linked to the Iran war.
Panama City Mayor Mayer Mizrachi met with U.S. State Department official John Mills to seek cooperation on smart-city projects, including a pending US$700,000 smart-stops funding request.
The Panama Canal is operating at top capacity, with 36–38 daily transits, as increased LNG vessel traffic driven by the Iran war puts pressure on scheduling and canal throughput.
China’s exports of rare-earth permanent magnets to the U.S. fell to 994 tonnes in Jan-Feb, down about 22.5% year-on-year, marking a seventh straight month of decline as Washington and allies diversify supply chains.
Specialist Federico Marengo says Panama must invest in training its workforce to close a labor gap as the country’s services platform continues to expand.
Costa Rica and Panama signed a bilateral rail agreement reported by The Tico Times, aiming to explore rail connectivity with broader regional ambitions. The deal marks a step toward potential cross‑border transport cooperation, though specific project details remain limited.
Panama’s public debt reached $60,059 million at the end of February 2026, rising $300.36 million from January; much of the growth occurred in the last five years, notably under President Laurentino Cortizo.