3.5 Panama Food and Additional Providers

3.5 Panama Food and Additional Providers


The Ministry of Agricultural Development, through the reports from regional agricultural coordinators has a coverage of 210,929 hectares planted, 30,001 producers with 64 crops developed through different production technologies. Notwithstanding, there are items that are considered to be of greater economic impact due to the destinations of their production (internal and external market).  Such 31 items are grouped into categories and subcategories.     

Below are production indicators for the main items:

Items

Production

Production  (Tons)

Production  (hundredweights)

Loss (hectares)

Basic Grains

404, 396

8,896,703

488

Roots and Tubers

1939

487,778

21

Cucurbitaceaes

46,456

1,022,034

10

Garden Produce

47,363

1,041,990

7

Industrial Crops

2,411,026

53,042,579

0

Fruit Crops

5,531,663

9, 742,978

72

Detail of Products in each subcategory:

  • Basic Grains: rice, cornsorghum, kidney beans, bean and pigeon peas.
  • Roots and Tubers: Manioc, Malanga or Xanthosoma, yam and eddoes.
  • Cucurbitaceaes: pumpkin for export, pumpkin for local consumption, cantaloupe for export, cantaloupe for local consumption, watermelon for export, watermelon for local consumption and cucumber.
  • Garden Produce: Potatoes, onion and industrial tomato.
  • Industrial Crops: sugarcane, palm oil, coffee and cocoa.
  • Fruit Crops: pineapple, plantain, Persian lemon, orange, papaya, avocado, and soursop.

It is important to mention that the tendency during the last couple of years, leans towards the imports of food, which has provoked a decrease in the agricultural areas of the country.

For 2019, exports, as per the FOB value with the greatest volume were the items of watermelon, banana, cantaloupe, coffee, wood and seafood products.  

The Observatory of Economic Complexity – MIT (OEC): https://oec.world/en/profile/country/pan/

 

Disclaimer: Inclusion of company information in the LCA does not imply any business relationship between the supplier and WFP / Logistics Cluster, and is used solely as a determinant of services, and capacities.

Please note: WFP / Logistics Cluster maintain complete impartiality and are not in a position to endorse, comment on any company's suitability as a reputable service provider.

3.5.1 Panama Food Suppliers

Overview

The State prioritizes purchase of grains (rice, beans and kidney beans) in order to meet the needs of the national food solidarity program. Currently, the Panamanian Government sustains 20% of the rice market, in comparison to private brands, at a subsidized price.     

During these past couple of years, there has been a growth rate of 1.04% and 1.11% in area planted and harvested respectively, with a loss of 0.35%, despite of insufficient harvest and post-harvest infrastructures, due to the rains, climatic conditions and other external forces that influenced its marketing. 

Additional information can be located from sources which are regularly maintained and reflect current facts and figures. For more specific and detailed overviews of food availability and market conditions, please consult the following sources:

WFP Vulnerability and Analysis Mapping (VAM): http://vam.wfp.org/

USAID Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET): http://www.fews.net/

For more information on food supplier contact details, please see the following link: 4.10 Supplier Contact List.

 

Retail Sector

Great part of the retail market for the Capital is nurtured by the main Market Merca Panama.  The wholesale tendency determines the retail sale Prices. 

Types of Retailers Available

Type of Retailer

Rank (1-5)

Supermarket – concentrates mainly in supplying a range of food, beverage, cleaning and sanitation products; have significant purchasing power; are often part of national/regional/global chains.

3

Convenience Store/Mini Market – medium sized shop; offers a more limited range of products than supermarkets; usually has good/stable purchasing power; may be part of chain or cooperative.

1

Permanent shop with strong supply capacity – individually/family owned store; usually offers fewer commodities and a limited selection of brands; good storage and reliable supply options.

4

Permanent shop with limited supply capacity – individually/family owned store; offers fewer commodities and a limited selection of brands; limited storage and unstable supply options.

5

Mobile Shop/Market Stand – individually/family owned store; usually offers fewer commodities and a limited selection of brands; may be found at outdoor markets, camps or unstable environments.

2


Descargo de Responsabilidad: La colocación de información sobre empresas en el LCA no implica ninguna relación de negocios entre el proveedor y el WFP / Logistics Cluster, y es únicamente utilizado como referencia de servicios y capacidades.

Favor tomar en cuenta que WFP/Logistics Cluster mantiene completa imparcialidad y no está en ninguna posición de avalar, comentar sobre la aptitud y capacidad de cualquier empresa como un respetable proveedor de servicio.