Marine Forwarding

Country guide

Shipping between the US and Panama

Central America and the Caribbean · 6 port guides · US free trade agreement partner

In 2025 the United States exported $8.9 billion of goods to Panama and imported $659.5 million from there. Panama ranked 40th among US export markets and 96th among sources of US imports.

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12 ports in Panama recorded in the World Port Index
US exports, 2025
$8.9BDown 16.5% on 2024 ($10.7 billion)
US imports, 2025
$659.5MUp 19.3% on 2024 ($552.8 million)
Goods balance
$8.3BUS surplus
Export market rank
40thAmong destinations of US goods
Import source rank
96thAmong sources of US imports

Top goods each way

The five largest Harmonized System chapters by value in 2025, with each chapter's share of the total.

US exports to Panama

Mineral fuels and oils (chapter 27) led US exports to Panama at $4.2 billion, 47% of the total. The top three chapters made up 64%.

  1. 27Mineral fuels and oils$4.2 billion46.8%
  2. 88Aircraft and spacecraft$1.0 billion11.5%
  3. 84Machinery and mechanical appliances$465.6 million5.2%
  4. 98Special classification provisions$369.1 million4.1%
  5. 85Electrical machinery and equipment$300.2 million3.4%

US imports from Panama

Special classification provisions (chapter 98) led US imports from Panama at $204.7 million, 31% of the total. The top three chapters made up 66%.

  1. 98Special classification provisions$204.7 million31.0%
  2. 71Precious stones, metals and jewelry$147.2 million22.3%
  3. 03Fish and seafood$81.0 million12.3%
  4. 85Electrical machinery and equipment$67.2 million10.2%
  5. 17Sugar and confectionery$30.1 million4.6%

Trade terms

The United States and Panama are parties to the U.S.-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement. Goods that meet its rules of origin can qualify for reduced or zero duty. Our certificates of origin page covers the paperwork.

The International Trade Administration covers the import rules and documents Panama requires in its Country Commercial Guide.

Through Norfolk-Newport News

The Census Bureau records trade by the US port it passes through. These are its 2025 figures for Norfolk-Newport News, Virginia, for trade with Panama.

Exports through the port, 2025
$49.3M0.6% of the US total with Panama
Leading export goods
Pharmaceutical productsHS chapter 30, $13.6 million
Imports through the port, 2025
$5.1M0.8% of the US total with Panama
Leading import goods
Miscellaneous food preparationsHS chapter 21, $3.1 million

Trade through Norfolk-Newport News

Ports in Panama

6 ports in Panama have a guide here, with depths and facilities from the World Port Index. In the index, Balboa records the deepest cargo pier of them, at 16.3 m.

Also recorded in the World Port Index for Panama: Bocas del Toro, Charco Azul, Pedregal, Puerto Armuelles, Punta Rincon and Vacamonte.

Sources

  • US trade figures: US Census Bureau, International Trade API, HS2 total exports and general imports for calendar 2024 and 2025, retrieved November 4, 2026.
  • Port data: National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, World Port Index (Pub 150), from NGA's UpdatedPub150.csv as captured by the Internet Archive on September 29, 2026.
  • Trade agreements: Office of the US Trade Representative, free trade agreements, checked November 3, 2026.
  • Import requirements: International Trade Administration, Country Commercial Guides, checked November 3, 2026.
  • Map: Natural Earth 1:110m land, public domain.