The Panama Canal Authority has launched a consultation process with representatives of maritime industry to identify potential partners for developing port terminals on both the Atlantic and Pacific sides of the waterway.
Following an approach similar to that used for its gas pipeline project, the authority convened representatives from companies with proven experience in container port operations and container shipping lines. These participants included APM Terminals, Cosco Shipping Ports, CMA Terminals–CMA, DP World, Hanseatic Global Terminals, MOL, PSA International, SSA Marine–Grupo Carrix, and Terminal Investment Limited, as well as representatives from major shipping lines including CMA CGM, ONE, Evergreen, Hapag Lloyd, HMM, Maersk Line, MSC, OOCL, COSCO, Yang Ming, the Port of Houston, and ZIM.
As part of business process, a market and feasibility study will be conducted for both terminals. This will be followed by a general project plan leading to initiation of a special process to select a concessionaire. The selection will include a prequalification phase, an interaction and dialogue stage with prequalified participants, and finally, the selection of the concessionaire.
The final phase of the concessionaire selection is expected to conclude in the fourth quarter of 2026. “This process will be transparent and competitive, with participation anticipated by leading global companies,” the authority stated.
Under the Panama Canal’s 2025–2035 strategic vision, container terminals are the most significant components of the canal’s supporting infrastructure, second only to the locks and navigation channels. An estimated investment of $2.6 billion is projected for both terminals, with an expected economic impact of between 0.4% and 0.8% of Panama’s GDP.
Approximately 8,100 jobs are expected to be generated during construction, and around 9,000 jobs once operations begin, including direct, indirect, and induced employment.
The goal is to increase container transshipment capacity by 5 million TEUs per year, strengthen Panama’s position as one of the world’s most competitive intermodal hubs, and expand port capacity in the interoceanic area, which is currently operating near its limit.
