• 2 min de lectura
• 2 min de lectura
Panama's ship bunkering activity maintains its growth rate. During July 2026, a total of 1,431 vessels received supply services in Panamanian waters, representing an increase of 26.3% compared to the 1,133 vessels served in the same month of 2025.
Maritime bunkering includes the supply of goods, provisions, water, equipment, and other inputs that vessels require for their operation and to meet the needs of their crews during navigation.
According to the preliminary report from the Planning Office of the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP), July's result constitutes the highest level of operability recorded so far this year, bringing the cumulative total between January and July to 9,367 supplied vessels.
Container ships accounted for the highest demand, with 485 services, compared to 395 registered in July 2025. They were followed by oil and chemical tankers, with 292 services, and bulk carriers, with 276. Also receiving bunkering services were 118 chemical tankers, 72 gas carriers, and other fishing and general cargo vessels.
The activity was distributed evenly between the country's two coastlines. The Atlantic concentrated 52.2% of the services, with 747 vessels, while the Pacific registered 47.8%, equivalent to 684 vessels.
The movement generated by this activity also represents significant demand for local suppliers in the auxiliary maritime industry. In July alone, 234 thousand kilograms of food and 149 thousand liters of water were supplied, in addition to 11 thousand kilograms of auxiliary equipment, 7 thousand units of maritime safety equipment, and 367 thousand units of other supplies.
Currently, 128 companies are enabled and authorized to provide bunkering services to vessels in Panama, which demonstrates the dimension of this activity within the chain of services that accompanies international maritime transport.
The growth registered in July reinforces Panama's role not only as a strategic route for interoceanic transit but also as a center for auxiliary and value-added maritime services for the global shipping industry.
Source: Portal Portuario
