The Council of Ministers of Panama approved on February 23, 2026, transitional concession contracts to ensure the operational continuity of the Balboa and Cristóbal ports, after the previous concession was annulled by a court ruling. According to the publication in the Official Gazette, for the port of Cristóbal, the exceptional contracting was authorized between the Maritime Authority of Panama and TIL Panamá, S.A., for a period of up to 18 months and a financial consideration of US$15.8 million. In the case of Balboa, the transitional contract with APMT Panamá, S.A. was also approved, for up to 18 months, for an amount of US$26.1 million. This company will be in charge of the operation, maintenance, and administration of the Balboa port, on the Pacific. The decision was published in the Official Gazette. Both decisions are part of the process to guarantee continuity in these key points of the country's port movement. The resolutions detail that the contracts are of an exceptional nature and seek to ensure that operations are not interrupted while the administrative transition is developed in both terminals.
