The performance of the Panamanian economy in the third quarter of 2021, measured through the Quarterly Gross Domestic Product (GDPT), showed an increase of 25.5%, compared to the similar period of the previous year. The PIBT valued at 2007 prices, registered an amount of B / .10,337.7 million for the compiled quarter, which corresponds to an increase of B / .2,100.3 million.
The behavior of the different economic activities is a reflection of the economic reactivation since the elimination of the sanitary restrictions imposed by the health authorities due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The continuity of the vaccination process against this disease in the country has allowed economic activities to continue their recovery process after the strong impact of the pandemic in 2020. Good performance in service activities, particularly those of trade, transportation, business, personal, among others, allowed GDP growth in the quarter.
At the level of activities that are part of the domestic economy, the following stood out: the manufacturing industry, construction, electricity and water; commerce, restaurants and hotels; transportation, real estate and business, private health, personal and government services, within agricultural activities, the cultivation of rice and corn; as well as the production of cattle whose slaughter increased by 9.8%, pigs by 15.5 and poultry by 15.8%. However, activities related to the financial sector showed decreases.
Among the activities that generated positive added values due to the exchange with the rest of the world are: the exploitation of mines and quarries, by boosting the economy with the production of 87,272 tons of copper minerals and their concentrates; the Panama Canal with an increase of 12.0% in tolls, mainly those related to the transit of neopanamax vessels in 17.7%; port operations as a result of the higher movement of TEU containers in 12.9%; re-exports from the Colon Free Zone by 19.5%. Meanwhile, banana and fish exports showed decreases of 26.5% and 24.9% respectively.
For the accumulated January to September, the economic activity presented a growth of 14.9%.
