Panama

Although historically the Panama Canal has been the top revenue earner, the contribution of canal revenues as a percentage in the transport and logistics sector has been gradually declining. In 2008 income from the canal represented 46.6% of sector GDP, while in 2013 it amounted to 37%. This shows that other transport modalities, mainly land-based cargo, have increased...

With access to both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans within a few kilometres of each other, Panama is one of the best-located countries for maritime activities globally. Added to its location, the Panama Canal and its expansion make it a key player in world commerce. The current container-handling capacity for the Pacific side of Panama is estimated at 5m twenty-foot...

Panama has a long history of transport and logistics infrastructure investment, with one of the most significant certainly being the widening of the Panama Canal. With an initial budget of $5.25bn, recurrent costs have raised the cost of the project to more than $6bn. Some estimate the grand total may reach $7bn, over 30% more than originally planned. Cost overrun claims...

Making up 18.53% of the country’s GDP at a value of $6.6bn in 2014, transport, storage and communications has historically been a pillar of Panama’s growth. The opening of the Panama Canal in 1914 and the subsequent handover of the passage from the US to local authorities at the end of 1999 has been a catalyst of the country’s economic success. Many activities related to...

In terms of premiums, the country’s insurance sector has been growing consistently since 2009. However, by some measures, profitability has been falling. According to Panama’s insurance trade association, Asociación Panameña de Aseguradores (APADEA), technical profits (i.e., the earnings from underwriting of risks) totalled $13.5m in 2013, while in the first nine months...