The Exportation and Manufacturing Industry (INDEX) has reported that exports have stabilized thanks to the rehabilitation of Muelles 6 and 7 at the Port of Progress. This move aims to alleviate a bottleneck in container shipments to the US, Europe, and Asia.
According to INDEX President Alejandro Guerrero Lozano, discussions with the National Port System Administration (ASIPONA) staff led to a solution for problems affecting containers departing from the Port of Progress. These issues had threatened to impact projected volumes for this year.
Guerrero Lozano stated that INDEX is part of the port’s operation council and noted that repairs on Muelle 6 have been completed, allowing temporary operations to resume. Additionally, Muelle 7 has been enabled to facilitate better coordination in shipping.
The president highlighted that Muelles 6 and 7 are capable of receiving large ships heading for Europe or Asia, while smaller vessels bound for Panama City can use Muelle 5 without issue. He emphasized that the other muelles with a deeper draft (11-12 meters) were initially inaccessible but have since been authorized to use Muelle 7 for containers.
This development has enabled shipping companies like MCC to resume operations and clear hundreds of containers that had been delayed in the port. Containers are now being shipped to destinations such as Singapore, Hong Kong, and others.
With this obstacle removed, exporters can breathe a sigh of relief and continue sending their products without significant disruptions.
