Panamanian Manufacturing Production Up

©image: Andrew Magill

According to data from the Comptroller General the largest increase was in the processing of food products, including meat, dairy, tomato, sugar and salt, with an average 12.6% rise.

The production of alcoholic beverages saw average growth of 7.5%.

"These statistics for the first six months of the year display a tendency for continued development of Panama's manufacturing industry, combined with global volume index rise from 135.8 to 136.9," reports Prensa.com.

Source: Prensa.com

More on this topic

Panama: Importation of raw materials increase 30%

December 2008

Imports for the first nine months of 2008 reached $1.2 billion, 30% more than for the same period last year.

Laestrella.com reports that "the manufacturing industry had a 4% growth, driven mainly by the development of agro-industrial products.

The report prepared by the Panama Industrial Union (SIP) points out that "this is the first time that the sector has surpassed the billion dollar mark for the import of raw materials, which is evidence of the sector's dynamism.

Guatemala's manufacturing exports grow

July 2008

Foreign sales of manufactured products during the first four months of this year grew by 22 percent compared with the same period last year.

Max Staebler, president of the Manufacturing Commission, said that in the first four months of 2008 the main products exported were plastics, shoes, refrigerators, and handicrafts.

Industries in El Salvador Press for Government Action

September 2011

They note that the private sector is bearing the brunt of the economy while the government is negligent in implementing development plans that have already been approved by several laws in the Legislature.

A statement by the Salvadoran Association of Industrialists (ASI) reads:

Manufacturing Exports Down by 18% in Costa Rica

April 2009

Manufacturing industry exports in the first quarter were down from $1.543 billion in 2008 to $1.260 billion in 2009.

Exports from this sector (microprocessors, textiles and medical devices) represent 61% of the country's total exports.

Journalist Hassel Fallas wrote in Nacion.com: "The reduction in manufactured goods exports is greater than the decline in agriculture (8%) and food (14%).