Imports to Panama fell 3.0 percent year-on-year to PAB 1131.7 million in December of 2018, mostly due to lower purchases of consumption goods (-1.4 percent), namely fuels and lubricants (-7.5 percent) and semi-durable (-9 percent). Also, purchases decreased for capital goods (-5.4 percent), of which transport and equipment (-16.3 percent) and agriculture (-25.4 percent); and intermediate goods (-12.2 percent), mainly raw materials and intermediate products for the industry excluding construction (-8.1 percent). Imports in Panama averaged 776094.95 PAB Thousand from 2003 until 2018, reaching an all time high of 1349156.80 PAB Thousand in October of 2014 and a record low of 226561 PAB Thousand in February of 2003.
Imports in Panama is expected to be 1085000.00 PAB Thousand by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. Looking forward, we estimate Imports in Panama to stand at 1075000.00 in 12 months time. In the long-term, the Panama Imports is projected to trend around 1100000.00 PAB Thousand in 2020, according to our econometric models.