Panama reached a new record in its total exports, registering B/. 324.4 million during the first three months of 2025, which represents an increase of 25.1% (B/. 65.1 million) compared to the same period of 2024, when B/ were reported. 259.4 million. This is the highest value recorded in a first quarter in the last 15 years, reflecting the momentum that the Panamanian export sector is taking in the search for more and new opportunities in international markets.

This growth is composed of B/. 249.1 million in registered exports, which reflected an increase of 32.7% compared to the previous year, and B/. 75.4 million in value-added exports under special regimes, which grew by 5.2%. The sum of both items forms the historical total reached in this period.

“This historical record in Panamanian exports reflects the effort and commitment of our exporters, as well as the potential that Panama has to continue growing in international markets. With each achievement, we reaffirm our ability to offer diversified and quality products to the world,” said the Minister of Trade and Industry, Julio Moltó.

During these three months, the main destinations of Panamanian exports were the Netherlands, with 14.2% of the total, followed by Taiwan, with 13.2%, and the United States, with 12.8%. Other important partners such as Mexico and Costa Rica remain in intermediate positions, while Thailand ranked eighth, mainly due to the export of scrap and waste from metals and paper.

A key fact is that 74.1% of exports went to countries with current trade agreements, which shows the importance of these treaties for the international projection of the country. The European Union was positioned as the main trade bloc, monopolizing 18.7% of exports, followed by the Latin American Integration Association (ALADI), with 12.4%, and the Central American Common Market (MCCA), with 10.2%.

As for exported products, bananas remain the main item, representing 17.5% of the total. It is followed by frozen shrimp with 13.4%, raw teak with 5.2%, antihistamine and antipyretic drugs with 4.8% and iron or steel waste with 4.5%. Raw palm oil (3.7%), watermelons (3.5%), Portland cement (2.2%), aluminum waste (1.9%) and yellowfin tuna (1.9%) also stood out.

The increase in watermelon exports boosted its entry into the group of the 10 main exported products, displacing fishmeal, which had maintained a constant presence on the list since 2023.

Together, these 10 tariff fractions represented 58.6% of the total exported value during the first quarter of 2025.