The Panama Industrial Union (SIP) maintains positive expectations for the sector at the end of 2026, with an estimated growth between 4% and 4.5%, as long as international conditions do not become more complicated.
According to the union, the Panamanian industry has established itself as one of the engines of job creation and economic diversification in the midst of a challenging global context.
“The industrial sector will possibly be growing at the same time as economic growth, perhaps a little below, but more or less between 4% and 4.5%. This is the expectation for this year,” said Jurado, highlighting that employment mania is becoming more dynamic thanks to new hiring, plant expansions and the installation of companies in free zones.
The president of the SIP highlighted that 2026 has been better than expected, despite geopolitical tensions and international economic challenges.
He mentioned that the reduction in unemployment, recently announced by the authorities, is an indicator that the national economy is reactivating. “We are seeing that the number of employment contracts is increasing significantly in the country, and we are also seeing it in the industrial sector with expansion projects and new companies,” he added.
Jurado stressed that the main challenges of the sector focus on human capital, the internationalization of exports and the need for public policies that encourage investment.
In that sense, he insisted that Panama must have an educational system adapted to new times, capable of training workers with technological skills and competencies aligned with the demands of modern industry.
“We cannot continue teaching what was from the past. We need the educational system to produce what the country requires so that our workers can adapt to new times and a different industry,” he said.
The union also considers it a priority to promote an exportable offer with greater added value, so that the Panamanian industry can position itself in more international markets.
The president of the SIP warned that weather phenomena such as El Niño and drought represent important risks for the national economy, especially in the agricultural sector.
“We definitely have climatological challenges that are going to significantly impact the issue due to drought, the agricultural part, and as a sector we are very concerned,” he noted.
In this context, Jurado reiterated the need for public policies to reduce bureaucracy and facilitate investment, since the industry is a sector that can grow rapidly if the right conditions are created.
Jurado emphasized that the union will continue working to influence public policies and guarantee that the industrial sector becomes a solid alternative to diversify the country’s economic matrix.
“What is really creating employment mania right now is precisely the industry, the private sector, the logistics sector and transportation. In reality, yes, we are seeing that the number of employment contracts is increasing significantly in the country,” he concluded.
The manufacturing sector is a fundamental and direct part of the industrial sector, also known as the secondary sector of the economy. In the first semester, manufacturing industries registered a growth of 3.6%, according to figures from the National Institute of Statistics and Census (INEC).
According to official figures, this behavior was driven by the increase in the production of meat and meat products, associated with greater slaughter of cattle, pigs and poultry.
The processing of shrimp, the increased production of soft drinks and alcoholic beverages, as well as the manufacture of cement, lime and gypsum and the production of ready-mixed concrete also contributed.
In contrast, the activities that registered negative rates were the production of dairy products and the production of sugar.
According to INEC figures, the slaughter of cattle increased 1.6%, while pig slaughter grew 13.3%.
Chicken meat production registered an increase of 3.0%. In the case of dairy products, the production of evaporated, condensed and powdered milk decreased 28.2%; Pasteurized milk fell 8.1%, and natural milk used for the production of related products fell 9.3%.
On the other hand, the production of tomato derivatives increased 22.4%, while sugar production decreased 9.4%. Salt production registered an increase of 34.6%.
Regarding alcoholic beverages, production increased 11.7%. Beer brewing grew 12.0%, while dry brewing increased 7.8%. Rum production decreased 0.8%, gin production increased 18.2% and other spirits production – which includes vodka, cognac, anise, wine and whiskey – fell 0.9%.
The production of rectified alcohol registered a 100% decrease.
In the case of soft drinks, the text provided does not record a variation figure.
Meanwhile, from January to July, ready-mix concrete production grew 4.7%, according to INEC figures.
