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Ports
Nearly 14,000 ships transit the Panama Canal each year with more than 192 million tons of cargo and 700,000 passengers and crew onboard. Because of this traffic and modern port facilities, Panama is expected to become the region’s principal multi-modal logistics center in coming years.
Today, Panama has the largest maritime fleet in the world and its four new container ports represent a total investment of over U.S. $ 4.5 billion. The Panama Maritime Authority (AMP) plans for 2009 a record registration of 300 new ships and that of 200 vessels already in the market.
Another crucial fact encouraging the growth of the ports sector is that on February 6, 2009 a new Merchant Shipping Law comes into force. In addition, the national government spent $ 5 million for investment in 13 projects to improve docks and berths in the country. For example, after modernization, the port of Balboa on the Pacific side will have 1500 meters of deep-water wharf and 50 hectares container terminal.
Comparative growth
 The Panamanian port system increased by 10.7% the traffic of TEUs, 20 feet long containers in the first half of 2008, compared to the same period in 2007, according to a Preliminary Report of the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP). Form the 1,881,315 TEUs moved between January and June 2007, the system increased this amount to 2 .081.962 TEUs. In 2007 the Panamanian ports closed with a 4 million TEU movement and reaching 5 million units in 2008. Most ports registered a growth in cargo traffic; the National Port System registered 21.4%, especially cargo with 41.9% and 33.6% in containers. The traffic of TEU containers grew up to 45.1%.
By the end of November 2008, the ports traffic reached 4.3 million TEUs. That shows an increase of 14.8% over the same period in 2007, representing 3,705,761 TEUs.
Currently, the main ports are:
On the Atlantic Coast.
1. Manzanillo International Terminal (Stevedoring Services of America)
2. Colon Container Terminal (Evergreen International Corporation)
3. Colon Port Terminal (Hutchinson Port Holdings)
4. Colon 2000 (Cruise Ship Terminal)
On the Pacific side:
1. Panama Port Terminal S.A (Hutchinson Port Holdings)
2. Rodman (Alireza - Mobil) for fuel loading and unloading.
Railroad
The Panama Canal Railway Company (PCRC) is in the process of implementing the Positive Train Control dispatch system "Train Sentinel (R)." which is a design of Quantum Engineering, Inc. that incorporates the latest in dispatch computer systems, providing location information by means of global positioning satellites. The technology allows the driver to be informed of different possible situations before they occur. Stopping the train if the operator fails to respond properly in order to prevent collisions between trains, giving speed restrictions and providing at the same time a high level of protection for field workers and their equipment
An investment of $ 80 million offers from a new railroad system, with a highly efficient intermodal connection between the Pacific and Atlantic ports. Furthermore, it complements the transportation center infrastructure jointly provided by the Panama Canal, the Colon Free Zone, port terminals, highways and airports. PCRC also offers services to business executives who travel daily from Panama City and Colon. Also to tourists who come to the country from the cruise port in Colon to the capital.
Highways
Panama’s total road network comprises 14,391.10 km. 60% of such are unpaved, according to reports from the Ministry of Public Works (MOP). Between 2006 and 2009, there were nearly 600 projects in progress to enhance it.
The Republic of Panama has three main roads:
- The Pan American Highway is the most important. It runs from Paso Canoa, on the border with Costa Rica to the town of Yaviza in the Province of Darien. This stretch at Darien’s jungle was built by the Americans during the 70s and is the last destination of the route.
- The Central Road is located in the Azuero Peninsula, and runs from Divisa to Pedasi.
- The Trans-Isthmian Road leading from Panama City to the province of Colon.
The Road Maintenance Fund (Fomavi) is an initiative sponsored with $ 70 million from the Interamerican Development Bank (IDB) and 30 million contribution package from the national government. Both sources of funding produce a fixed income and do not create a fiscal obligation or sacrifice for the nation.
The fund is characterized by being autonomous, as having the ability to perform rehabilitation, particularly for roads maintenance and is governed by a Board of Directors. It is expected that among its achievements will be promotion of greater private sector participation, employment generation, and decentralization of inter-city roads, ensuring financial sustainability and continued implementation maintenance service providing an efficient road network for the country.
Airports
 Panama has 27 public and 41 private airports. From these public airports, 5 are full fledged airports, meaning that they have immigration and customs services.
Our main international airport is Tocumen, located a 15 minutes from Panama City, and may be easily accessed by a modem highway (Southern Corridor). The second most important airport is Marcos A. Gelabert, located as well in the capital city, providing services to national and international flights.
It is worth mentioning that the transformation of Enrique A. Jiménez Airport, located near Colons Free Zone, into an airport for cargo and passengers is one of the projected goals set by the Logistics & Multimodal Center Project, that is being currently developed in this important Atlantic area.
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