Ocean freight to Panama is, among the many options in Central America, the most natural choice with difference. Over the last decades, its economy has grown up constantly, which made Panama the country with the highest GDP per capita in the region; the extension of the Panama Canal, the large foreign and domestic investment and its strong logistics industry make the ocean freight to Panama be a safe investment, as rated by the main risk rating firms.
The first you need to know before finalizing the procedures for your ocean freight to Panama is to choose between a Full Container Load (FCL) or a Less than a Container Load (LCL) - Groupage.
FCL is perfect for those who want to make sure their cargo is not contaminated or exposed to the products belonging to other traders. Besides, if you intend to send a volume of 10 or 21 standard American pallets, a 20 or 40-foot container will be the most profitable choice, a 20-foot container and 40-foot container holds 10 and 21 standard American pallets, respectively; notice that each pallet measures 39.37 in. wide and 47.24 in. long. Consider that FCL shipping is a cost-effective solution when you are able to fill up more than half of a container.
However, if you don’t need your products isolated for your ocean freight to Panama, or you can’t fill up a container, the “groupage” will let you save on shipping costs, as you share the container with other traders.
Panamá has five seaport areas: Panama City, Manzanillo, Balboa, Colón, and Cristóbal. These seaports handle the 16000 and the 17000 million dollars in exports and imports, respectively, which is the annual value of the foreign trade of Panama.
Panama City is the capital of the country and has one and a half million inhabitants in the metropolitan area. It boasts full land and air transportation infrastructures, as well as its own Municipal Dock. Check more details by visiting the AMP website (Panama Maritime Authority).
Also known as Manzanillo International Terminal, the Port of Manzanillo services shipping lines moving through the Panama Canal, the Caribbean Sea or the Atlantic Ocean, providing a transfer service and Logistics Park 24⁄7. It has a sophisticated Information System, as well as complete logistics equipment, highlighting its 15 post-Panamax portal cranes and other cranes, top picks, tractors, trailers and other equipment.
→ Ship container to Manzanillo
The Port of Baloba is located in the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal and has an annual cargo traffic of around 2.76 million TEUs, covering 182 hectares for storage and with five berths. It is considered the main container terminal in this area of the Pacific Ocean and can handle liquid or solid bulk, as well as special and refrigerated cargo.
Colon Container Terminal -as this seaport is known- covers 74 hectares, with all the necessary equipment for container transfer, load and unload on its three piers on the Atlantic side of the Panama Canal. Thanks to its location, it has a land access to the Colón Free Zone and rail, which makes it an excellent distribution center.
iContainers offers quick and affordable ocean freight services to Panama from many different ports across the globe. These include ports located in:
For more information, consult ship container rates for your ocean freight to Panama here.