Because Colombian ports have a lower operating cost base than Panamanians, the South American country competes to appropriate the logistics business in the region.
Until a while ago, Panama led the logistics operations in the region, however, there are some signs that indicate that this situation could be changing, since the growth in the movement of maritime cargo in the country has reported a slowdown in recent years.
From 26 to 30 August, representatives of the port industry of Central America and the Dominican Republic will meet in Antigua Guatemala to discuss innovation, trends and facilitation of international trade.
From the National Port Commission of Guatemala' s press release:
Guatemala has become the venue for one of the most important port events in Central America: the 41st Port Meeting of the Central American Isthmus, better known by its acronym REPICA.
In the first nine months of 2018, eight environmental impact studies were presented to perform dredging works and new constructions in different port terminals in the region, with a $75 million estimated investment.
The interactive platform "Construction in Central America", compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData, includes an up to date list of public and private construction projects for which environmental impact studies (EIA) were submitted to the respective institutions of each country.
Lack of electricity and logistics and storage problems at Floridian ports are complicating exports from Central America, especially for perishable goods.
Difficulties faced at ports in Florida and Puerto Rico are affecting the region's exporters, who are looking for alternatives so that their shipments are not affected.
The 70% growth in cargo movement through the port of Corinto in the last five years reflects the imperative need for Nicaragua to invest more in port infrastructure.
Even though container movements through Nicaraguan ports are still significantly less than that through other ports in the region, the increase in sea freight traffic and its growth potential compel the government and the sectors involved to think about options for increasing port capacity.
From July 25 to 28 representatives from the port industry in the region will be meeting in Belize at the XXXIX Port Meeting of the Central American Isthmus.
At the event, to be held at the Best Westerm Biltmore Plaza Hotel in Belize, the main discussion panels will address current issues such as the Cruise Industry, Mobility and Logistics Policy in Central America, Strengthening Environmental Port Management in Central America, Multilateral Agreement And Safety, Port Security and Protection, Gross Verified Mass (GVM), Climate Change and the Role of Women in the Port Industry, among others.
From March 12 to 15 shipping companies, logistics companies and others from this industry will be meeting in Panama to discuss issues such as the use of new energy sources and technology on ships.
The Panama Maritime Chamber has announced the holding of the XIII Panama MaritimeConference& Exhibition from March 12 to 15 at the Megapolis Convention Center in Panama City.
The operator of Puerto Caldera in Costa Rica, has hired a French-Colombian consortium for the construction of a multipurpose port in the Gulf of Uraba, adjacent to the border with Panama, with an investment of $580 million.
PIO SAS, a holding company dedicated among other sectors to the development, implementation and management of services for port infrastructure and logistics, has announced that the consortium Sapeim from France and Termotecnica Coindustrial S.A. from Colombia, is the preferred contractor for the stage of Engineering, Procurement, and construction (EPC) of Puerto Antioquia, which will be the closest Colombian port to the Panama canal and the closest to Medellin and Bogota.
It is not only the port of Corozal which needs immediate promotion, there is also an urgent need to keep building port infrastructure in order to take advantage of the Canal expansion.
EDITORIAL
The opinion of entrepreneurs in the logistics sector is unanimous: the forthcoming opening of the new and expanded Panama Canal locks should be the starting point for consolidating Panama as a major logistics hub for the hemisphere.
The new 340 meters quay that the concessionaire Colon Container Terminal has started to operate has capacity to accommodate up to 22 rows of vessels.
The dock required an investment of $150 million and has increased port capacity by 500 thousand TEUs, bringing the total capacity of the port to 2 million TEUs.
A statement from the Presidency of Panama states that "...
The terminal which is being built by APM Terminals in the Costa Rican Caribbean will be able to receive vessels containing refrigerated cargo containers of a larger capacity than those currently arriving at the port.
Fresh fruits and meat exporters are some of the productive sectors that will benefit the most once the mega port being built in Limon, Costa Rica comes into operation.
The construction of the new container terminal in Moin has rekindled business hotels, corporate machinery, transportation and others, in an area deprived of development factors.
Renting working machinery, hiring companies for events and renting hotel rooms are just some of the new business deals being generated in Limon, since construction of mega-port project at Moin started.
While the epic speeches on a regional maritime traffic sound crazy, Puerto Cortes is rationally emerging as the hub port in the North Central Triangle .
The port terminal, announcing an increase in productivity of 90% through the modernization of the container and general cargo terminal, aims to be the hub for cargo coming from North America and cargo destined for Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua.
From November 24th to 27th representatives from the industry in Central America and other regions will be gathering together in Panama City to discuss issues related to maritime safety and port development.
From a statement issued by the Network for Protection of Ships and Port Facilities:
The PBIP Network Mexico-International and the Panama Maritime Chamber, together with the Maritime Authority, Panama Canal Authority and the International Maritime University of Panama; have presented the 'VIII International Forum on Maritime Safety and Port Security', which will be held in Panama City from 24 to 27 November 2014.
Out of the $80 million awarded in Costa Rica to the Limón Port City Project 5 years ago, only 12% of it has been spent, mainly on paying the salaries of public officials connected to the project.
Editorial
A few months ago a controversy arose in Spain over the allocation of funds for development, such as low-interest financing for development projects by a private construction company.