The owners of the land cargo that mainly comes out from Panama's Colon Free Trade Zone (FTZ) have to use the ports to deliver their products in countries of Central America, due to the sociopolitical difficulties that affect Nicaragua. Currently, there are at least 150 trucks from Panama are being held in that country, according to a report from Panama America.
According to the former president of the Maritime Chamber of Panama and manager of Maritime and Logistics Group Consultants, Rommel Troetsch, there are no foreign trade statistics to estimate the amount of containerized cargo that would be sent by sea and not by land. However, he said, there is a maritime transport network of feeder vessels between Panama, the entire region, and Central America.
The exports from the FTZ to El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras can be exported and reach their destination through the ports of the Atlantic or Pacific of Panama, as the movement of land cargo in the region has collapsed due to the situation in Nicaragua, Troetsch said.
Until April, the cargo movement in Panamanian ports registered a 3.3% decrease compared to the previous year, amounting to 2,157,759 TEU. According to specialists in the field, no great growth is expected for the rest of the year.
Central American logistics are affected by what happens in Nicaragua and have to rely on maritime transport, as Customs no longer allows the exit of trucks that go beyond Costa Rica.
Source: mundomaritimo.cl