Panama Canal Fueling Growth

The Panama Canal Authority is presenting significant market opportunities for U.S. companies through several upcoming projects. 

• The Canal Authority plans to tender for two major port projects, Port Corozal on the Pacific side and Port Telfers Island on the Atlantic side. These projects aim to support the canal’s goal of increasing its annual capacity from 9.4 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) to 15 million TEUs over the next decade.
   
• The authority is currently seeking bids for a new pipeline project for oil products such as propane, butane, and ethane. This pipeline will be a key part of a plan to move these products from the U.S. to markets in Asia, including Japan, South Korea, and China, a segment of trade that is currently 95% maritime.
   
• U.S. companies will also be able to bid on the Río Indio Reservoir tender, another major project designed to support the canal’s ongoing expansion and modernization efforts.

The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) uses a formal, structured bidding process for all its major projects. For international firms, this process is designed to be transparent and competitive, but it is also complex and requires significant preparation.  With all these projects, Panama is taking steps to ensure its continued relevance and competitiveness by expanding its infrastructure and services to meet the evolving demands of global trade. For more information on the Panama Canal Tenders, please visit the Panama Canal Authority website. 

The U.S. Commercial Service in Panama City stands ready to support U.S. companies in their government procurement pursuits in Panama. For further information, contact your local U.S. Commercial Service office in the U.S. or Senior Commercial Specialist Jeane Zuniga, in Panama by email at Jeane.Zuniga@trade.gov.