Panama’s Monthly Index of Economic Activity (IMAE) recorded a 2.95% year-on-year increase as of May, driven by growth in the transportation, storage, communications, and financial intermediation sectors, among others, according to data released Tuesday by the National Institute of Statistics and Census (INEC).

The INEC noted that this increase was higher than the 1.53% reported during the same period last year, underlining a stronger trajectory in economic growth.

From January to May 2025, the IMAE accumulated a 5.48% increase compared to the same period in 2024, the INEC added.

Explaining the year-on-year performance, the agency highlighted that the transportation, storage, and communications sector showed favorable behavior — especially in revenue from Panama Canal tolls, net tonnage, and air transport.

Financial intermediation also reported positive results, supported by growth in local deposits and loans. Additionally, the electricity and water sector showed strong performance, particularly in the generation of hydroelectric, wind, and solar energy.

Advertisement

20250715_donacion_sangre_central_728x90

20250701_vacunacion-influenza-728x90

20250701_vacunacion_vph-728x90

20250701_dengue_728x90

20250501_mh_noexigencia_dui_728x90

20231124_etesal_728x90_1

20230601_agenda_primera_infancia_728X90

domfuturo_netview-728x90

20240604_dom_728x90

CEL

However, several economic activities showed negative trends, including the value of re-exports from the Colón Free Zone, domestic fuel sales, registrations of new vehicles, container traffic, production of grey cement and ready-mix concrete, and thermal energy generation.

The agricultural sector also declined, with drops reported in the cultivation of bananas, watermelon, tomatoes, cattle farming, and the purchase of raw milk, according to INEC.

The European Parliament is set to launch a three-day consultative meeting with Central American lawmakers beginning Monday, July 21, 2025, in Costa Rica. The initiative aims to foster dialogue between members of the European bloc and their regional counterparts.

The Nicaraguan opposition sees the meeting as a strategic opportunity to urge the European Union to reassess its political and trade relations with the government of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo, whom they accuse of committing crimes against humanity and dismantling the country’s democracy.

“We are going to speak with the Members of the European Parliament to make clear that Nicaragua is facing a democratic crisis and is ruled by a regime that has violated civil and political rights,” said Juan Sebastián Chamorro in an interview with DW. Chamorro is a representative of the Nicaraguan Democratic Concertation (CDN), a coalition of political and civil society leaders, most of whom are currently in exile.

According to Chamorro, the CDN has already made contact with the 12 European parliamentarians expected to attend the meeting in San José, which will also include legislators from across Central America — including representatives from Nicaragua’s pro-government parliament.

Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo de León announced on Monday that he will meet with his Mexican counterpart, Claudia Sheinbaum, in August to strengthen the relationship between both countries, particularly in their shared border region.

During a press conference, Arévalo stated that the exact date and location of the meeting will be confirmed soon.

“Our government has been holding technical meetings with Mexico under a very active cooperation agenda,” Arévalo said.

He added that the main topics of discussion will include energy, environmental protection, and border security, with the participation of various government officials from both nations.

According to Arévalo, the meeting is part of “a continuous and open dialogue with our Mexican neighbors to strengthen bilateral relations.”

Advertisement

20250715_donacion_sangre_central_728x90

20250701_vacunacion-influenza-728x90

20250701_vacunacion_vph-728x90

20250701_dengue_728x90

20250501_mh_noexigencia_dui_728x90

20231124_etesal_728x90_1

20230601_agenda_primera_infancia_728X90

domfuturo_netview-728x90

20240604_dom_728x90

CEL

Although both leaders took office in 2024, they have not yet met in person. However, they held a phone call in January 2025, as confirmed by Sheinbaum at the time.

The relationship between Mexico and Guatemala has grown stronger since Arévalo assumed the presidency. In May 2024, he met in Chiapas with then-President Andrés Manuel López Obrador to discuss security, infrastructure, and economic development along the border.

In June, Guatemala announced it would strengthen its “land and air operations” along the Mexican border following a “confusing” armed confrontation in Huehuetenango, in the northwest of the country, near the Cuauhtémoc-La Mesilla crossing. The two countries share approximately 965 kilometers of border.