On February 23, 2026, agreement A-2002-26 was signed between the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP) and APMT Panama, S.A., for the operation of the Balboa port. The endorsement is part of the preliminary control exercised by the Comptroller's Office over acts and contracts that commit state resources, as explained by the entity. The Concession Contract No. was also endorsed. The temporary operation was delivered for a period of up to 18 months to APM Terminals and TiL. Meanwhile, APM Terminals has initiated the stabilization phase in Balboa, prioritizing the continuity of the logistics hub while a new operating system is installed to resume container movement at the terminal. The Comptroller General, Anel Flores, endorsed the contracts that allow the continuity of the operation, maintenance, and administration of the Balboa and Cristóbal ports, following the recent transition in both terminals. This was Contract No. A-2003-26 of February 23, 2026, signed between the AMP and TIL Panama, S.A., for the continuity of the operation of the Cristóbal port. This terminal is considered strategic infrastructure for maritime trade and the country's logistics connectivity. The Comptroller's Office detailed that both contracts are based on article 79, numeral 5, of the Single Text of Law 22 of 2006, ordered by Law 153 of 2020, which regulates public contracting and administrative concessions linked to public services. This move comes after the Government took control of both ports following the publication in the Official Gazette of the ruling of the Supreme Court of Justice (CSJ) that annulled the concession to Panama Ports Company (PPC), a subsidiary of CK Hutchison. This formalizes the step for them to continue functioning without interruption. This is Contract No...
