Panama has moved to improve transparency around port concessions after the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP) revoked a resolution that had restricted public access to certain concession-related documents for up to 10 years.
The AMP’s board repealed Resolution 012-2026 shortly after President José Raúl Mulino called for the measure to be reconsidered. The resolution, published in the Official Gazette on August 28, had classified various technical, administrative and legal documents as restricted information.
The documents covered by the measure included information related to port-area concessions and licences for maritime services. Its reversal means such information will no longer automatically be subject to the 10-year confidentiality period established under the earlier resolution.
The decision comes amid heightened scrutiny of Panama’s port sector following legal and regulatory developments involving major concessions at the entrances to the Panama Canal. Panama’s Supreme Court earlier this year ruled that the concessions held by a subsidiary of CK Hutchison were unconstitutional, leading the government to take control of the Balboa and Cristobal port operations.
The latest move is expected to reinforce demands for greater transparency in the awarding and management of port concessions, particularly as Panama continues to develop its maritime infrastructure and attract investment.
The reversal also comes as the Panama Canal faces renewed pressure from low water levels, underscoring the strategic importance of the country’s ports and maritime infrastructure to global trade.