The canal is critical to the U.S. economy and trade. The U.S. is the largest user of the Panama Canal, with total U.S. commodity export and import containers representing about 73% of Panama Canal traffic, and 40% of all U.S. container traffic traveling through the Panama Canal every year. In all, roughly $270 billion in cargo is handled annually.

What sectors are the most promising for Swiss SMEs in Panama?

Stefan P. Zosso: Currently, there's a robust demand for products and services in the construction and infrastructure sectors. For example, expansions are underway for the metro and highways, along with the development of a terminal for cruise ships. The logistics and freight sector is... See more

Take the Red Sea. It’s one of the most important arteries of global trade, linking Asia and Europe through the Suez Canal. But since late 2023, escalating conflict around the region has made it too risky for many vessels to pass through. By May 2025, traffic through the Suez Canal had dropped almost 70% from 2023 levels. Instead, ships began

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