파나마 항구 / Port of Panama

Panama's primary ports are the Port of Balboa on the Pacific coast and the Port of Cristobal (part of the Colón area) on the Atlantic (Caribbean) coast. These two ports serve as the main gateways to the Panama Canal and are crucial global transshipment hubs. 

 

Balboa from Unis

 

Major Ports Overview

• Port of Balboa: Located at the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal, near Panama City, Balboa is the largest port on the Pacific coast and ranks among the busiest container ports in Latin America. It is a major transshipment hub connecting trade routes between Asia, the Americas, and global markets. The port has extensive facilities for container, general, and bulk cargo, and is operated by the Panama Ports Company (PPC). It is also connected to the Atlantic side by the Panama Canal Railway, allowing efficient intermodal container transport across the isthmus.
• Port of Cristobal / Colón: Situated on the Atlantic side (Caribbean Sea) of the canal, this port, along with nearby terminals like the Manzanillo International Terminal (MIT) and Colon Container Terminal (CCT), forms a major port cluster for Atlantic-bound traffic. Cristobal is one of the oldest operating ports in Panama and also handles a mix of container, general, and cruise ship cargo. It is also operated by the Panama Ports Company. 

Other Notable Ports

• Manzanillo International Terminal (MIT): A significant container port on the Atlantic side, known for its high volume of transshipment traffic.
• PSA Panama International Terminal: Another major container terminal on the Pacific side, built on the former Rodman naval base, which adds significant capacity to the region's logistics network.
• Ports of Almirante and Vacamonte: These are smaller regional ports that primarily serve local cargo, fishing industries (Vacamonte), and specialized cargo like banana exports (Almirante). 

Cruise Ship Terminals

Panama has dedicated facilities for cruise ship passengers. The main options are: 

• Fuerte Amador Cruise Terminal: A new, large terminal in Panama City (on the Pacific side) with capacity for multiple mega-liners simultaneously, which officially opened in 2024.
• Port of Colón 2000: A terminal on the Atlantic side that handles a large number of cruise ship calls annually.