Ports of Panama mobilize 8.5 million TEUs and mark a decrease of 1.20% in 2022
After the record of 8.6 million TEUs mobilized in 2021, the ports of Panama registered a slight reduction of 1.20%, totaling 8.5 million TEUs.
However, amounts are still registered above 2019 and the trend is that during 2023 the recovery will continue progressively, reports Tuesday Financial.
Figures from the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP) indicate that 8.5 million TEUs were mobilized last year, which represents a 1.20% drop from the record of 8.6 million TEUs registered in 2021.
In 2019, Panama exceeded 7.3 million containers, and in the midst of the pandemic in 2020 it grew to reach 7.7 million TEUs and rise to 8.6 million in 2021. «This reflects that Panama’s geographical position has been vital for the handling of cargo both for transshipment and for the transit of container ships through the Canal and to maintain the supply of the region’s logistics chain without interruptions even in times of pandemic”, highlighted Rommel Troetsch, specialist in the maritime industry.
The port that handled the most containers in 2022 was Manzanillo International Terminal (MIT), which exceeded 2.7 million TEUs, followed by Balboa with 2.18 million TEUs and Colon Container Terminal (CCT) with 1.44 million TEUs.
However, compared to 2021, the port of CCT registered an increase of 37.1%, while MIT, Balboa, PSA and Colón showed a decrease of 2.5%, 6.6%, 4.7% and 12 .8%, respectively.
The average rate of decrease of the port system in the mobilization of TEUs was 0.3%.
Panama Canal
Meanwhile, 14,132 ships transited through the Panama Canal in fiscal year 2022, while in 2021 13,238 transits were reported. That is, a growth of approximately 894 additional vessels was recorded last year.
Last October, when fiscal year 2022 closed, the Panama Canal Authority reported that US$3,028 million entered toll payments, US$60 million more than US$2,968 million in 2021.
Between October and December, the transit of ships reached 3,638; these figures correspond to the first part of the Canal’s fiscal year 2023, and represent a growth of 0.97% compared to the same period of the previous year.
By MundoMaritimo
