Panama Ports See 3.6% Rise In TEU Container Traffic In 2025

PANAMA CITY, Jan 16 – Panama’s port traffic rose 3.6% in 2025 to 9.9 million TEU containers compared to the previous year, the country’s Maritime Authority said on Friday.

The Central American nation’s ports feed into the larger Panama Canal, a pivotal passage connecting the Pacific and Atlantic oceans and a key route in the global trade network. 

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• The SSA Marine Manzanillo International Terminal, on Panama’s Atlantic coast, handled 2.9 million TEUs, up 5% from 2024.

• Panama Ports Company’s (PPC) Balboa terminal saw 2.7 million TEU containers, up 2%, while its Cristobal terminal saw a 9% rise in traffic and moved 1.2 million TEUs.

• The Colon Container Terminal saw the biggest increase in traffic last year, handling 1.7 million TEUs, a 10% spike versus a 2024.

• Panama International Terminal moved 1.4 million TEUs, down 2% compared to 2024. This was the only port to see a dip in traffic, according to the Maritime Authorities.

• “We also saw an increase in the repositioning of empty containers, which reaffirms the importance of the Panamanian hub as a strategic point for the redistribution of equipment in the region,” Max Florez, general director of ports and auxiliary maritime industries, said.

(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2026.