Panama Canal draws global interest for new port developments

Posted on 2025-10-27

The Panama Canal is once again attracting worldwide attention as a key logistics hub. Around 20 international maritime companies met with the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) to explore opportunities for developing new port terminals on both the Atlantic and Pacific sides.

Among the interested companies are industry leaders such as APM Terminals, CMA CGM, Maersk, MSC, DP World, COSCO, and Hapag-Lloyd.

With an estimated investment of $2.6 billion, the project aims to expand transshipment capacity by 5 million TEUs per year, reinforcing Panama’s position as a strategic global trade hub.

The initiative is also expected to create over 17,000 direct and indirect jobs, driving local economic growth and strengthening Panama’s logistics infrastructure on both coasts.

According to the ACP, the concession award is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2026, as part of the Panama Canal Vision 2025–2035, which seeks to modernize and diversify the Canal’s services to meet growing global trade demands.