APM Terminals to Temporarily Take Over Panama Ports

In its January 30th statement, APM Terminals also indicated that it had "expressed its willingness to temporarily take over the operation" of the Balboa (Pacific) and Cristóbal (Atlantic) ports "to mitigate risks that could affect essential services for regional and global trade, and support Panama's logistics hub". APM Terminals reiterated this Thursday that it "is not part of the ongoing legal processes nor participates in decisions regarding the future structure and administration" of the two ports near the Panama Canal, whose concession, held by the Chinese conglomerate CK Hutchison, was judicially annulled. This will allow this Maersk subsidiary to operate them temporarily. The central government, through the AMP, manages the concession for Panama's ports, which includes the five main ones near the Canal, including Balboa and Cristóbal, which moved 3.77 million containers in 2025, 38% of the total port system. The day after, Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino announced that PPC will continue operating the ports until the court ruling, which is final, is "executed", and after that, APM Terminal Panama, a Maersk subsidiary, will temporarily take over the operation until a new concession process for both terminals is completed. The Panama Canal, an autonomous entity of the Panamanian state, is getting involved in port operations and launched on January 30th the bidding process for the new Telfers (Atlantic) and Corozal (Pacific) ports, which require an investment of 2.6 billion dollars. "Panama, as the owner of the ports, guarantees the operational continuity of the national port system," indicated the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP) in turn. APM Terminals stated this in a statement on January 30th, maintaining the same terms as it told EFE this Thursday, shortly after CK Hutchison informed that it had already notified AP Moller-Maersk that it would take legal action if it assumes the administration or operation of the ports without having previously agreed with the Chinese conglomerate. The Supreme Court of Justice (CSJ) declared on January 29th that the 1997 contract granting the 25-year concession for the Balboa and Cristóbal ports to Panamá Ports Company (PPC), a CK Hutchison subsidiary, as well as the amendments and the 2021 automatic extension, was "unconstitutional". "APM Terminals is one of the most reliable maritime operators in the world, which makes it a suitable choice to assume this responsibility."