Panama: Industrie
From Handelswijzer Midden-Amerika
MANUFACTURING
The manufacturing sector (including preparation of foodstuffs) is relatively small and focuses
on just a few activities, mainly those related to the processing of agricultural products. The sector has
seen its share of GDP fall slightly, from 8.9 per cent in 2001 to 7.0 per cent in 2006.25 Nevertheless,
between 2002 and 2004, the branches manufacturing beverages and metal products for use in building
grew at annual average rates of 18.9 per cent and 14.6 per cent, respectively. According to data in the
August 2006 household survey, the manufacturing sector employed 8.9 per cent of the labour force.
The major manufactures, according to their production value in 2004, were the following: preparation
and conservation of meat, fish, fruit and other items (17.6 per cent); preparation of beverages
(13.8 per cent); preparation of other foodstuffs (9.4 per cent); publishing and reproduction of
recordings (7.7 per cent); and manufacture of metal products for use in building (7.5 per cent).
During the period 2000-2005, the value of exports of manufactures represented on average 64 per cent of Panama's total exports. In 2005, the leading exports of manufactures were: other semi-manufactures (4.0 per cent of total exports); chemicals (2.6 per cent); and clothing and accessories (1.1 per cent). The major manufactures imported by Panama in 2005 were: chemicals (12.8 per cent of total imports); automobile industry products (10.1 per cent); and office and telecommunications equipment (8.9 per cent).
In 2007, the average MFN tariff applied by Panama to manufactures (non-agricultural products according to the WTO classification) was 7.3 per cent; there are virtually no significant tariff peaks for manufactures.
As far as contingency measures are concerned, the only measure adopted by Panama was the initiation of a safeguards investigation in 2006 into a manufactured product (printed film in rolls for the manufacture of flexible packaging.
Manufactures in general are given various incentives under several programmes implemented by Panama.
Bron: Organization of American State's Foreign Trade Information System (SICE)
