Fishing sector leading Panama’s exports

The fishing sector, led by shrimp, is set to become Panama’s main export engine by 2026.

The Panamanian maritime-fishing sector is positioned as the main driver of the country’s goods exports, according to the Commercial Intelligence Office of the                                                                            Ministry of Commerce and Industries (Intelcom/Mici).

According to the report, exports in this sector reached $158.5 million at the end of July 2026.

This result represents a 5.6% increase compared to the same period in 2025, injecting dynamism into Panamanian foreign trade by accounting for almost a quarter of the total goods exported by the nation.

The breakdown of official data reveals that fish, crustaceans, and mollusks constitute the mainstay of the activity, covering 75.4% of the total supply of the sector with a value of $119.50 million.

The general administrator of the Aquatic Resources Authority of Panama ( ARAP ), Eduardo Carrasquilla, acknowledged the strategic value of this product in the international market. noting that the United States, the European Union, and Taiwan remain the main destinations for Panamanian seafood.

A key factor in this year’s commercial success has been the utilization of international trade agreements, according to the INTELCOM report.