Panama Business & Economy News

    Panama's Economy Grows 4.8% in the First Quarter of 2026 The Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) indicated that the Panamanian economy registered a growth of 4.8% during the first quarter of 2026, according to the report on Quarterly Gross Domestic Product (GDP) released by the National Institute of Statistics and Census (INEC) of the Comptroller General of the Republic. Source: EFE This result reflects a solid performance of national economic activity and far exceeds the average growth observed in Latin America during the same period. Furthermore, the growth achieved in the first quarter already surpasses the 3.9% annual projection estimated by international organizations for Panama in 2026, demonstrating a more dynamic start to the year than anticipated. The report indicates that GDP reached B/.22,550.7 million, representing an increase of B/.1,032.2 million compared to the same period in 2025. Among the domestic economic activities that drove this performanc...

  Panama Stopover Program expanded to 15 days by Copa Airlines Copa Airlines is stretching its Panama Stopover program from seven to 15 days, giving the carrier and the country a longer window to turn Tocumen International Airport’s connecting passengers into actual visitors. Source: Business Traveller The expansion, offered at no additional airfare cost, comes as Copa prepares to carry close to 21 million passengers in 2026 and operate up to 420 daily flights through Panama City. Both the airline and Panama’s tourism partners aim to welcome over 250,000 stopover visitors in 2026, up from 215,000 last year. The airline believes that the additional week in its stopover program will give passengers the opportunity to visit a country that they might not typically consider. Copa’s focus on stopovers is built on the country’s strategic geography. Its position between North, Central, and South America makes Tocumen Airport an ideal point for the airline’s hub-and-spoke operatio...

  Cemex Sells Its Stake in Panama to Grupo Estrella for $200 Million Cemex announced this Monday that it has sold its stake in Panama for $200 million. The Mexican cement giant has handed over its factory to Grupo Estrella, a Dominican industrial conglomerate. The firm explained in a statement that this transaction will serve to bring resources to priority investment areas, primarily to increase its presence in the United States. The sale of Cemex to Grupo Estrella includes the cement plant in Chilibre, just outside Panama City, as well as the rights to acquire additional reserves granted by the Panamanian government. Cemex indicates that it will retain its additives business in the Central American country. The company arrived in Panama in 1994 with the purchase of the Cemento Bayano business. The multinational has indicated that "a minor portion" of the transaction will be used to increase the firm's stake in Couch Aggregates, a US mineral aggregates company that operat...

  Visa and Duty Free Americas Expand Benefits to New Centers in Panama, Central America, and the Caribbean This agreement now covers the DFA store on the Panama-Costa Rica border in Paso Canoas, Panama's Tocumen International Airport, and Punta Cana International Airport in the Dominican Republic. Source: EYN Magazine Travelers using Visa credit, debit, or prepaid cards will be able to access these benefits when making purchases at Duty Free Americas stores. Visa and Duty Free Americas (DFA), the largest operator of duty-free shops in the Western Hemisphere, renewed the expansion of their agreement to provide special benefits to Visa cardholders. This agreement now covers the DFA store on the Panama-Costa Rica border in Paso Canoas, Panama's Tocumen International Airport, and Punta Cana International Airport in the Dominican Republic. DFA offers a wide range of products from the world's finest brands, including cosmetics, fragrances, fashion, jewelry, wines, spirits, food, ...

  Mapfre Panama closed the second quarter of 2025 with a net profit of $5.7 million. Mapfre Panama closed the second quarter of 2025 with net written premiums of $133.8 million, positioning the company as the third-largest company in the Panamanian insurance market, with a 13.42% market share as of June 2025. By segment, the auto segment leads in volume with more than 69,000 clients. Source: El Capital Financiero Business profitability was one of the highlights of the period, with an after-tax profit of $5.7 million, representing a 92% increase compared to the second quarter of 2024. This favorable performance is due to strict technical and operational management of its most profitable business lines. In terms of operating efficiency, Mapfre managed to maintain a combined non-life net ratio of 95.1%. Furthermore, return on equity (ROE) stood at 11.3%, an indicator that demonstrates the company's financial strength and ability to generate sustainable value for its shareholders. The ...