The ports of Balboa and Cristóbal began to show a recovery in cargo volumes, following the decline recorded in February 2026, when the Panamanian government took control of both terminals after the ruling of the Supreme Court of Justice, which affected the concession of the former operator Panama Ports Company (PPC).
According to the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP), although the impact extended into March, the month in which both port facilities had their lowest levels, data from April and May reflected an upward trend. Balboa went from 153,840 container movements in March to 221,536 in May, representing a rebound of 44% from its lowest point. Furthermore, its May 2026 volume exceeded that recorded in May 2025 by 1.9%.
Cristóbal also showed an improvement, after falling to 46,408 movements in March, it rose to 71,096 in May, equivalent to an increase of 53.2% from its recent low. Although it still remains below last year’s levels, the trend in April and May points to a gradual recovery.
“The recovery in volumes is a direct reflection of the commitment and capacity of Panamanian workers,” explained Max Florez, deputy administrator in charge of the AMP.
