Countries · PA

Panama: sanctions and trade risk

No elevated indicator

As of 7 November 2026, the screened UN, EU, UK, Swiss and US sanctions lists contain 149 companies, organisations, vessels and aircraft linked to Panama.Lists last checked .

Logistics profile: ports, airports, customs, documents, holidays, news ↓

No elevated country indicator for Panama in the route rules Sanctioni uses. That is not a clearance: goods may still be export-controlled, and parties in Panama may still be on a list.

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On the sanctions lists

149 entries on the official lists name Panama — as nationality, address, registration or flag. That links them to the country; it says nothing about other companies there. The same company can appear on several lists and is then counted once per list. Individuals are not included — Sanctioni does not process them.

ListEntries
US OFAC — Specially Designated Nationals (SDN)141
Switzerland SECO Consolidated Sanctions List4
UK Sanctions List (FCDO)2
EU Consolidated Financial Sanctions List (FSF)1
UN Security Council Consolidated List1

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Logistics profile

Panama: logistics and trade

Global transit hub, Panama Canal and transshipment hub

Panama (PA) lies in Central America and connects North and South America, with coasts on both the Pacific and the Caribbean. A presidential republic with a US-dollar-based economy, it is primarily a services and logistics economy. Its centrepiece is the Panama Canal, which links the Atlantic and Pacific and handles around five percent of world trade. Imports and exports are processed by the National Customs Authority (ANA) and the digital customs system SIGA; the import tax ITBMS is 7 percent (10 percent on alcohol and accommodation, 15 percent on tobacco). The container ports of Balboa on the Pacific and Cristobal and the Manzanillo International Terminal on the Atlantic are among the busiest in Latin America. The Colon Free Zone is the largest free-trade zone in the Americas and a re-export hub for the entire region. Tocumen Airport (PTY) is a leading air-cargo and passenger hub. The national currency, the balboa, is pegged 1:1 to the US dollar. This combination makes Panama one of the most important transit and transshipment markets in the Western Hemisphere.

Capital
Panama City
Population
4,202,572
Area
75,417 km²
Currency
Panamanian Balboa (PAB)
Continent
North America
Region
Central America
Economic area
SICA / SIECA (own common external tariff)
Religions
Catholic, Protestant, Other
Access to the sea
Yes

Transport modes Sea · Air · Road · Rail

Current situation
As of 2026: Panama Canal in normal operation (around 38 transits per day, no new restrictions for 2026); SIGA customs system restored after the 2025 outage, temporary maintenance.
Seasonal conditions
Rainy season from May to November with heavy rain; in dry years (El Niño), low Gatun Lake levels and draft restrictions at the Panama Canal.

Main seaports

  • Balboa

    Balboa (PABLB), Pacific gateway of the Panama Canal: 1.14M TEU in H1 2026 (-11.9%), run by APM Terminals since February 2026. Containers, reefer, RoRo, transshipment.

  • Puerto Cristobal

    Cristobal (PACTB), Panama Canal: 409,685 TEU in H1 2026, down 34.9% after the switch to MSC's TiL. Alternatives: Manzanillo International, Colón Container Terminal.

  • Puerto Colon

    Colón (PAONX): MIT handled 2.9M TEU in 2025, about 88% transshipment. Colón Free Zone, RoRo, reefer; CCT owned by Evergreen. Alternatives: Cristobal, Caucedo.

  • Bahia De Las Minas

    Bahia Las Minas (PAMNP) near Colón is an oil and bulk port with a Vopak fuel terminal. Containers move via Manzanillo, Cristóbal and Colón.

  • Charco Azul

    Charco Azul (PA CHA) is a crude-oil terminal on Panama's Pacific coast, the Pacific end of the Trans-Panama Pipeline. Not a container port; use Balboa or PSA Panama.

  • Chiriqui Grande

    Chiriqui Grande (PA CHG): Caribbean crude-oil terminal of the Trans-Panama Pipeline, built for VLCCs, no container handling. Box cargo via Colón/Manzanillo.

Main cargo airports

  • Tocumen International AirportPTY

    Tocumen Airport (PTY/MPTO), Panama: 107,412 tonnes of cargo January-May 2026, DHL Aero Expreso freighters, Copa belly capacity, customs and Colón Free Zone.

  • Panamá Pacífico International AirportBLB

    Panamá Pacífico International Airport (BLB) serves as a key logistics hub connecting Panama City to global freight networks with modern cargo facilities.

Road corridors

  • Pan-American Highway (Carretera Interamericana)
  • Corredor Norte and Corredor Sur (Panama City)
  • Transístmica Panama City - Colón

Rail corridors

  • Panama Canal Railway (Balboa/Panama City - Colón)

Main trade lanes

  • Asia - US East Coast (canal transit)
  • Intra-America via Colón Free Zone
  • Pacific - Atlantic (Panama Canal)
  • USA - Panama

Customs and import

Customs authority Autoridad Nacional de Aduanas (ANA)Official website ↗

Import customs system
Electronic import declaration via SIGA (Sistema Integrado de Gestión Aduanera) of the ANA; tariff query via the ANA's national customs tariff tool.
Export customs system
Export declaration (Declaración de exportación) via SIGA of the ANA; exports are exempt from ITBMS.
Import VAT
ITBMS 7 percent standard rate; 10 percent on alcohol and accommodation, 15 percent on tobacco; basic foodstuffs, medicines and exports are exempt.
Proofs of origin and trade agreements
Proof of origin per agreement: USA (TPC), EU-Central America Association, EFTA, Canada, Chile, Peru, Singapore, Mexico, Central America; declaration or certificate.
Restricted and prohibited goods
Restricted or subject to permit: weapons and explosives, certain agricultural and plant products (phytosanitary), medicines, chemicals, and used vehicles subject to conditions.

Typical import documents

  • Commercial invoice (Factura comercial)
  • Packing list
  • Bill of lading / air waybill (Bill of Lading / Luftfrachtbrief)
  • Import declaration (Declaración de importación, SIGA)
  • Proof of origin for preferential treatment
  • If applicable, import licenses and health/phytosanitary permits

Typical export documents

  • Export declaration (Declaración de exportación, SIGA)
  • Commercial invoice
  • Packing list
  • Transport document (B/L, AWB)
  • Proof of origin per agreement
  • If applicable, phytosanitary or sanitary certificates

Logistics conditions

Customs complexity
Medium
Customs delays
Medium
Port congestion
Medium
Dangerous goods relevance
Medium to high
Pharma and cold chain relevance
Medium to high
E-commerce relevance
Medium to high

Trade

Top import goods

  • Mineral oils
  • Machinery
  • Vehicles
  • Electronics
  • Consumer goods

Top export goods

  • Machinery
  • Bananas
  • Seafood
  • Sugar
  • Ships

Typical cargo

  • Container transshipment
  • Consumer goods (re-export from Colón Free Zone)
  • Mineral oil and fuels
  • Bananas and agricultural products
  • Machinery and electronics

Latest logistics news

Logistics questions

What is the import tax in Panama?

The ITBMS (Impuesto de Transferencia de Bienes Muebles y Servicios) is Panama's value added tax and has a standard rate of 7 percent. Alcohol and accommodation are subject to 10 percent, tobacco products to 15 percent. Basic foodstuffs, medicines and exports are exempt.

Which authority handles customs in Panama?

The competent authority is the Autoridad Nacional de Aduanas (ANA). Imports and exports are declared electronically through the SIGA system (Sistema Integrado de Gestión Aduanera). The national customs tariff can be checked through the ANA's online tariff tool.

Which documents do I need for importing into Panama?

Commonly required are a commercial invoice, packing list, a transport document (bill of lading or air waybill) and the electronic import declaration in SIGA. For preferential trade agreements, a proof of origin is also needed; for certain goods, health or phytosanitary permits may also be required.

Which free trade agreements does Panama have?

Panama has agreements with, among others, the USA (Tratado de Promoción Comercial), the EU (Central America-EU Association Agreement since 2013), EFTA, Canada, Chile, Peru, Singapore and Mexico. Rules of origin and proofs depend on the respective agreement.

What role does the Panama Canal play in logistics?

The Panama Canal connects the Atlantic and the Pacific and handles around five percent of world trade. In 2026, around 38 ships are again transiting per day. In dry years, low water levels in Gatun Lake can lead to draft restrictions that limit cargo capacity.

What is the Colón Free Zone?

The Colón Free Zone on the Atlantic side is the largest free trade zone in the Americas and the second largest in the world. Around 2'500 companies import and re-export goods from there to Latin America and the Caribbean, without local import duties on transit goods.

What currency is used in Panama?

The official currency is the Balboa (PAB), which is pegged 1:1 to the US dollar. In everyday life and trade, the US dollar is predominantly used as legal tender; there are no currency controls.

Full logistics profile on Freight Academy ↗

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Powered by Freight Academy, verified 27 Jun 2026. Logistics information, not a sanctions source.

Indicator: the route rules of the Sanctioni check, curated from the published sanctions programmes of the UN, EU, UK, Switzerland and the US. Entries: the live version of each list (data sources), updated every 6 hours.

A preliminary screening aid — not legal advice and not a compliance clearance. The official publication of the competent authority prevails.

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