U.S. Food Export to Panama

Chihade International supplies American food products to importers and foodservice distributors in Panama, shipped from our SQF-certified facility in Georgia. We are looking for a distributor partner in Panama.

Why Panama

Panama punches far above its size. U.S. agricultural exports were $942.6 million in 2024, with consumer-oriented product at $546.1 million — making Panama the 23rd-largest market in the world for U.S. consumer-oriented agricultural exports despite a population of about 4.5 million. Re-export and transhipment account for much of the difference.

One commercial point worth knowing: no Panamanian statute regulates supplier–distributor relationships. Terms are governed purely by private contract, so the termination protections that complicate exits elsewhere in Latin America do not apply here.

What We Do From the U.S.

We are a U.S. exporter. We do not operate warehouses or distribution in Panama — that is what our distributor partners do. Our job is everything on the American side of the shipment:

• Sourcing from more than 300 U.S. manufacturers, to your specification
• Consolidating mixed loads into full containers, so you are not forced into single-supplier minimums
• Dry, chilled and frozen storage in our 64,000 sq. ft. SQF-certified facility in Lawrenceville, Georgia
• Spanish-language labelling, stickering and ink-jet date coding applied before goods leave the U.S.
• Export documentation — USDA and health certificates, halal certification where required, certificates of origin
• Ocean and air freight on contracted U.S. lanes, with expedited air for urgent replenishment

Import Requirements We Prepare For

Start with a correction, because a great deal of published guidance is out of date. AUPSA no longer exists. Law 206 of 2021 abolished it and created the Agencia Panameña de Alimentos (APA), operational since October 2021. APA is the single window for food imports — sanitary requirements, prior import notification, sanitary registration and free-sale certificates. Any source still routing you to AUPSA is at least five years stale.

The Ministry of Health’s food control directorate issues sanitary operation permits, and MIDA handles agricultural and phytosanitary matters.

Under the U.S.–Panama Trade Promotion Agreement, in force since 2012, a majority of U.S. agricultural exports went duty free immediately with the remainder phasing over fifteen years — rice not until 2031. We confirm the position per product code.

Labelling is in Spanish with full statutory particulars and clearly visible expiry dates; claims implying health benefits are prohibited. There are no front-of-pack warning octagons in Panama.

Sanitary registration is required for all branded packaged imported foods, valid seven years, and import notification must be filed at least 48 hours before cargo arrival.

Container gateways are Manzanillo, Cristóbal and Colón on the Atlantic side and Balboa and Rodman on the Pacific; Tocumen International handles air freight.

What We Look For in a Distributor Partner

We are deliberately selective, because these relationships tend to last decades rather than seasons. We are typically looking for:

• An established importer of record, with the licences and clearance experience the market requires
• Real coverage of at least one channel — modern retail, wholesale, foodservice distribution, or franchise supply
• Temperature-controlled storage and distribution appropriate to the categories you want to carry
• A sales team that can place and support a new brand rather than simply warehousing it
• An interest in a long-term programme, including exclusive lines where it makes sense for both sides

If that is a reasonable description of your business, we would like to talk.

See all markets we serve →

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have a warehouse or office in Panama?

No. Chihade International is a U.S. exporter based in Lawrenceville, Georgia, and we ship from there. We do not hold stock inside Panama. Local importing, clearance, storage and distribution are handled by our distributor partners — which is precisely the role we are looking to fill.

Do we have to order a full container of a single product?

No. Consolidation is one of the main reasons distributors work with us. We combine products from multiple U.S. manufacturers into one container, so you can carry a broad range without committing to full-truckload minimums from each supplier.

Can we get exclusive rights to a brand in our market?

In many cases, yes. Chihade International is the exclusive distributor of Country Sun, our own brand of American cheeses, mayonnaise, frying oils, cheese sauce and breakfast meats. Where it makes commercial sense on both sides, we grant exclusive Country Sun distribution rights by territory — a line your competitors cannot stock. See the range at countrysunfoods.com.

Is AUPSA still the food authority?

No. AUPSA was abolished by Law 206 of 2021 and replaced by the Agencia Panameña de Alimentos (APA), which has been operational since October 2021. Guidance still naming AUPSA is out of date — and it is surprisingly common.

Does Panama require warning labels like Chile or Peru?

No. Panama has no front-of-pack warning octagons. Labelling is in Spanish with full statutory particulars and clearly visible expiry dates, and health-benefit claims are prohibited.

How far ahead do we need to notify a shipment?

Import notification must be filed at least 48 hours before cargo arrives. We build that into the documentation timeline so nothing sits waiting at the port.

How We Work With Partners in Panama

Whichever channel you operate in, the U.S. side of the shipment is the same: sourcing, consolidation, preparation and documentation from our SQF-certified facility in Lawrenceville, Georgia.

• Franchise export — supplying U.S. franchise brands at their locations in Panama.
• Distributor partnerships — for importers and foodservice distributors carrying American lines.
• Retail and supermarket consolidation — an American grocery range without single-supplier minimums.
• Export warehousing and 3PL — dry, chilled and frozen under one roof in Georgia.
• All export services — the full picture of what we handle before a container sails.
• Beef and protein export — U.S. beef, poultry and seafood, including halal programmes, with plant eligibility confirmed for each market.

Useful reading: Multi-language labelling for exported U.S. food  ·  Container consolidation for food importers  ·  How to become a distributor partner  · How franchise export works ·  all export guides

Become Our Distributor Partner in Panama

Tell us about your market coverage and the products you are looking for, and we will be in touch about a distribution program.