The Panamanian port system mobilized 7.5 million metric tons of cargo in janaury, 4.9 percent more compared to the same month in 2014.

Bulk cargo transport accounted for 3.8 million metric tons, followed by containers with 3.6 million metric tons.

Figures from the Comptroller stated movement general cargo grew 17 percent compared to January 2014, followed by bulk transport (12.2 percent).

The movement of containerized goods decreased 1.9 percent.

The movement of 20-foot containers increased 7.7 percent to 575,855 units.

In the first month of the year, 1,186 ships used the Panama Canal, a 2.6 percent decrease.

There were 1,043 high-draught vessels and 143 small-draught vessels.

Despite registering less transits, tolls experienced a slight rise of 0.1 percent and reached $165.1 million.

Port operators said that traffic should increase substantially once the expansion is finished. The construction of another port on the Pacific side, in Corozal, is also expected to increase business,

The port system expects to reach 10 million containers during the next few years, putting Panama on par with the largest container ports in the hemisphere.

The Panamanian port system, consisting of five ports, completed 2014 with a movement of 6.7 million containers, a growth of 2.9 percent compared to 2013 and just under the record of 6.8 million set in 2012.

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