Central America in Motion

Costa Rica stands out in Central America for its stable economy, strong institutions, and focus on attracting high value-added foreign direct investment. Its economic model has transitioned from traditional agriculture to a diversified economy based on services, advanced manufacturing, and tourism. It is Central America's leading export power in terms of value, thanks to its success in sectors such as medical devices, electronics, and corporate services.

The country has an extensive network of free trade agreements, including agreements with the United States, the European Union, China, and Singapore, which gives it privileged access to global markets.

Its exports have shown robust growth, with a 24% increase in 2023. The main destinations for its exports are North America with a recent 30% increase and Europe with a recent 19% increase, while imports come mainly from the United States, China, and Mexico.

Like Guatemala and Honduras, Costa Rica benefits from coasts on both oceans, allowing for flexible logistics.

Maritime Ports:

• Caribbean Coast (Atlantic): The Puerto Limón and Moín complex is the country's main gateway, handling nearly 80% of maritime trade. The Moín Container Terminal (TCM) is one of the most modern and efficient ports in Latin America, specializing in refrigerated cargo handling and key for agricultural product exports.

• Pacific Coast: Puerto Caldera is the second most important port and the main one on this coast. Its proximity to the capital, San José, and to the main industrial centers of the Central Valley makes it a strategic hub for importing consumer goods, vehicles, and raw materials from Asia and the west coast of the Americas, as well as for exporting sugar and coffee. Punta Morales specializes in bulk cargo.

• Land corridors and border crossings: Costa Rica's road network, although denser than that of its northern neighbors, faces serious challenges of congestion and maintenance, especially on routes connecting the Central Valley with the ports.

Key border crossings are:

• With Nicaragua: Peñas Blancas is the most important border crossing, a vital but often congested point for land trade with the rest of Central America.

• With Panama: Paso Canoas is the main southern crossing, fundamental for bilateral trade and the transit of goods to and from the Panamanian logistics hub.

El Salvador's economy is the third largest in the region and is characterized by a strong orientation toward services and industry. The services sector represents 66% of GDP, followed by industry with 26% and agriculture with 8%. After a privatization process in past decades, the current economy is supported by a dynamic private sector, with a notable density of micro and medium-sized enterprises. Economic growth has shown resilience, with a 4.1% GDP increase in the second quarter of 2025, driven by construction, investment, and exports.

The United States is its main trading partner, representing 27.7% of imports and a key destination for its exports. At the regional level, Guatemala is a fundamental partner, consolidating itself as the main export destination within Central America. The country is an active member of the Central American Common Market and has sought to strengthen regional economic integration.

Located exclusively on the Pacific coast, El Salvador's logistics are centered on its ports and its land network that connects it with its neighbors.

Maritime Ports:

• Port of Acajutla: It is the country's main port, handling most of the maritime trade. Located 85 km from the capital, San Salvador, it has terminals for containers and general cargo, being a key point for importing raw materials and exporting manufactured products.

• Port of La Unión (SVCUT): Also known as Puerto Cutuco, it is a more modern facility designed to handle large volumes of cargo and containers.

Land Corridors: The Pan-American Highway is the backbone of land transportation, connecting the country from east to west.

Main Industries and Products:

• Exports: The textile and apparel sector is the export engine, with companies manufacturing garments for the American market. Other key sectors are processed foods, paper and cardboard, pharmaceutical products, and electronic components.

• Imports: Mainly petroleum derivatives, raw materials for its industry (plastics, chemical products), medicines, transportation equipment, and consumer goods.

Panama's economy is unique in the region, defined by its world-class services sector, which contributes between 70-80% of its GDP. The logistics sector, anchored by the Panama Canal, is the main industrial engine of the economy, complemented by a robust financial and commercial center.

Panama has been one of the fastest-growing economies in the world over the last decade, reaching the category of high-income country. Thanks to its position as the "Bridge of the World," Panama is a global transshipment center. Its trade is intrinsically linked to international flows passing through its ports and the Canal. The Colón Free Trade Zone is the largest in the hemisphere, acting as a redistribution center for all of Latin America.

Panama's logistics infrastructure is the most developed in Central America and is designed to serve world trade.

• The Panama Canal: It is the most important logistics asset in the region. It connects 180 maritime routes, 170 countries, and 1,920 ports.

• Maritime Ports: A world-class port system, with container terminals on both coasts that are among the most active in Latin America.

• Caribbean Coast (Atlantic): The Colón port complex, which includes Manzanillo International Terminal (MIT) and Colón Container Terminal (CCT), is one of the largest in the region. MIT alone has a capacity of 3.5 million TEUs annually and is strategically located next to the Colón Free Trade Zone.

• Pacific Coast: The Port of Balboa is Latin America's main transshipment terminal, with a capacity of 5 million TEUs. Together with PSA Panama International Terminal, they handle Pacific traffic.

The land infrastructure is designed to complement the maritime axis. The Trans-Isthmus Highway and the Panama Railroad efficiently connect Atlantic and Pacific ports, creating a "dry canal" for container movement.

• Exports: Panama's goods exports are modest compared to services revenue. They include agricultural products such as bananas and coffee, seafood, and copper.

• Imports: Panama imports a wide range of products, from fuels and vehicles to consumer goods and food. Many of these imports are not for local consumption, but to be re-exported from the Colón Free Trade Zone to other countries in the region.

Panama's role as a transshipment hub means that a large number of containers arrive at its ports to be distributed by land to the rest of Central America. Our Cross-Border service and our regional ground transportation network are essential for companies using Panama as their distribution center. We offer full truckload (FTL) transportation from the ports of Balboa or Colón, managing the crossing at Paso Canoas and continuing the route to Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and beyond.

The Central American region is an ecosystem that should be viewed with hope and opportunity. While the past was difficult and the present presents challenges, these are the circumstances that offer the most opportunity for companies interested in establishing themselves and doing things differently and growing alongside the region.

Currently, there has been a new impetus to move forward in this direction, political and commercial will to build together a solid region.

With the main exponent being the Regional Master Plan for Mobility and Logistics 2035

There are also new logistics corridors, roads, highways, and the creation of the Central American Unified Invoice and Declaration (FYDUCA), a new form of documentation that seeks to standardize the process, an electronic legal document that serves to document transfers (exports) and acquisitions (imports) of freely circulating goods, traded between VAT taxpayers of Guatemala and El Salvador and Sales Tax (ISV) taxpayers of Honduras.