Panorama Maritime and Port Forum 2026 addresses Panama’s challenges in consolidating its position as a regional logistics hub

The second edition of the Panorama Maritime and Port Forum 2026, organized by Panorama Marítimo y Logístico, brought together representatives of the Panama Canal, port operators, international organizations, and national and international logistics stakeholders on Thursday, August 6, at the Riu Plaza Panama Hotel. Participants analyzed the challenges and opportunities facing the country as it seeks to maintain its competitiveness and strengthen its role as a regional logistics hub amid changes in global trade, the transformation of maritime routes, the climate crisis, digitalization, and the evolution of global supply chains.

During the event, in which MundoMaritimo participated as an International Media Partner, discussions covered issues including infrastructure, water availability for the Panama Canal, process integration, technology, and connectivity, while highlighting the need to strengthen cooperation between the public and private sectors. The forum also emphasized that, in a global environment where companies are seeking more efficient and resilient supply chains, Panama faces the challenge of turning its geographical position into a sustainable competitive advantage amid growing international competition.

Water as a priority for the Panama Canal

One of the main issues addressed during the forum was water security for the Panama Canal. The designated administrator of the interoceanic waterway, Ilya Espino de Marotta, explained that ensuring water availability is one of the greatest strategic challenges to maintaining the Canal’s competitiveness and securing its long-term operations.

In this regard, she recalled that the water crisis recorded in 2023 had a direct impact on vessel transits and highlighted the need to develop new sources of water supply. “If the Canal loses competitiveness, we lose revenue as a country. In 2023, approximately 2,700 vessels stopped transiting, which could have represented around US$900 million,” she said.

She highlighted the Río Indio project as one of the main alternatives for increasing water availability for the Canal. The initiative involves an estimated investment of approximately US$1.5 billion, the construction of a dam, and the resettlement of communities located in the area where the project will be developed.

She also noted that the Panama Canal continues to promote strategic projects related to logistics infrastructure, energy corridors, and new development opportunities aimed at expanding the country’s participation in global supply chains.

Digitalization for more efficient logistics

Digital transformation was another central theme of the forum. Industry representatives agreed that Panama needs to move toward a more integrated system in which authorities, ports, shipping lines, transport operators, and users can share information efficiently.

For Enrique Piqueras, General Manager of PSA Panama technology should be implemented only after improving existing processes. “If you standardize and digitalize an inefficient process, you are going to create a monster. First, you have to make the process more efficient and then digitalize it,” he said.

In this regard, he stressed that “we cannot aspire to digital transformation if each institution continues to manage information through different channels. The first step is for all stakeholders to work with a single source of information and, from there, to digitalize cargo release efficiently.”

He also highlighted the opportunity for Panamanian ports to strengthen their role as a strategic complement to the Canal, particularly in scenarios where external factors could affect international maritime routes. In this context, he stressed that logistics competitiveness depends not only on available infrastructure, but also on the ability to connect the different processes involved in the movement of goods.

Panama as a regional hub

For his part, Antonio Domínguez, President for Latin America and the Caribbean at Maersk**, highlighted Panama’s competitive advantages stemming from its infrastructure and strategic location, while pointing to the importance of improving regional connectivity.

“Panama, with all its infrastructure and as a logistics hub, has a lot to offer,” he said, but warned that while infrastructure and efficiency are important, “without resilience, it becomes fragile.”

The executive therefore indicated that the future of regional trade will depend on greater integration among countries, transportation systems, customs processes, and logistics platforms. He also highlighted the importance of projects aimed at facilitating trade and improving land connectivity, including logistics integration initiatives with neighboring countries such as Costa Rica.

The challenge of building sustainable logistics

Participants agreed that Panama must continue strengthening the partnership between the State and the private sector to develop solutions that respond to the new demands of international trade. While the public sector is responsible for establishing a strategic vision, developing appropriate policies, and promoting investment, companies provide the operational expertise needed to implement improvements across the logistics chain.

Issues related to security, cargo traceability, cybersecurity, and compliance with international standards were also discussed as key elements in maintaining market confidence.

During the event, participants agreed that beyond the Canal and ports, the country’s future as a regional logistics hub will be determined by its ability to adapt to a constantly changing global trade environment and to turn its current advantages into sustainable opportunities for the decades ahead.

By MundoMaritimo