Panama remains Latin American leader in maritime connectivity

This index is similar to another study by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) in which Panama stands out with the highest number of maritime services compared with other Central American countries and the Caribbean Community which comprises 15 countries.

The UNCTAD index assesses five components: number of companies that provide services to and from the country’s ports; the size of large vessels providing services to and from ports in the country, measured in teu; the number of services that connect the ports of a country with those of other countries; the total number of vessels that are used in services to and from ports of the country; and the total number of containers that are transported in ships that provide services to and from the ports of a country.

For the 10th time, Panama again surpassed countries such as Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, and Peru, in that order respectively, and transhipment centres such as the Dominican Republic and Jamaica. The country stands out with the largest gateway between Central America and CARICOM, as a regional logistics hub to help promote trade within and across the region.