(prensa.com)In 2010, the Panamanian port system, consisting of Balboa, Cristóbal, Manzanillo International Terminal and Colón Container Terminal, handled 5.5 million containers, a 32 percent increase compared to 2009.
Industry analysts say this growth in cargo movement occurred alongside the economic recovery of 2010. The ports that showed the greatest growth in traffic were Balboa and Cristóbal.
Port officials said the increase is especially welcome since 2009 was a down year for the country’s facilities, with traffic dropping almost 9 percent.
It is estimated that 90 percent of the containers handled by Panama’s ports are destined for other countries in the region.
Panama has the most advanced port system in the region, with more than 50 cranes at its various facilities, including 22 at the Port of Balboa.