We go to the factory of your Alibaba supplier, record the visit without cuts and hand you a complete report in Spanish or English, for Panamanian buyers.
In Panama, parts are repuestos, wheels are rines, tires are llantas, and the trunk is the maletero. The customs broker is a corredor de aduanas, not an agente aduanal as in Mexico. Put the English name next to the local term on every specification.
| In English (as on Alibaba) | Usual term in Panama | Also heard |
|---|---|---|
| Brake pads | pastillas de freno | — |
| Alloy wheels | rines | aros |
| Tires | llantas | neumáticos |
| Auto parts / spare parts | repuestos | — |
| Bumper | parachoques | defensa |
| Hood | capó | — |
| Trunk | maletero | baúl |
| Taillight | luz trasera | stop |
| License plate | placa | placas |
Terms are the ones buyers in Panama most often use; usage can vary by region within a country. Always send the English name with your specification.
Panama is on UTC−5 all year, with no summer time, so Guangzhou (UTC+8) is 13 hours ahead. A visit that starts at 9:00 in Guangzhou starts at 20:00 the evening before in Panama City. You receive the report in Spanish or English, and we can show you the factory live on WhatsApp during the visit.
In Panama the biggest chapter of imports from China is vehicles and their parts (table below), so auto parts is where we are most useful. We also handle construction products and badges, medals and keychains.
We only publish a case when the client agrees, and no Panamanian client has yet. In the meantime, the Guatemala case study (names and factory details removed) and the sample report show how a visit and its report work.
We coordinate shipping to your door; customs clearance is handled by an authorized customs broker in your country.
Panama's trade ministry (MICI) publishes the agreements Panama has in force. Its list of bilateral agreements includes free trade agreements with Singapore, Chile, Peru, Canada, Mexico and Israel, a trade promotion agreement with the United States and partial-scope agreements with Cuba, Colombia, the Dominican Republic and Trinidad and Tobago. It names no agreement with China. The general rate of ITBMS, Panama's value-added tax, is 7% (DGI, Law 8 of 2010, article 76).
Panama's customs authority, the Autoridad Nacional de Aduanas (ANA), was created by Decreto Ley 1 of 13 February 2008. Article 42 of that decree requires the intervention of an agente corredor de aduana for the customs regimes, including temporary and definitive imports, unless an international agreement or the law excludes it. Article 43 lists the exceptions, among them imports of personal and household goods by individuals whose CIF value does not exceed B/.4,000 and is not split into smaller lots (Gaceta Oficial). The decree dates from 2008 and later changes may apply, so confirm the current rule with your corredor. A commercial order from a Chinese factory is not personal or household use, so plan for a corredor from the start, and give the corredor a complete set of documents (invoice, packing list, transport document) before the cargo arrives.
Panama reported imports from China of US$2.1 billion in 2025, 15.2% of its total imports. Vehicles are the largest chapter, ahead of machinery and electronics:
| HS chapter | What it covers | US$ million | Share of imports from China |
|---|---|---|---|
| 87 | Vehicles and their parts | 399 | 18.6% |
| 84 | Machinery and mechanical appliances | 313 | 14.6% |
| 85 | Electrical machinery and electronics | 262 | 12.2% |
| 72 | Iron and steel | 136 | 6.3% |
| 73 | Articles of iron or steel | 134 | 6.2% |
| 39 | Plastics and plastic articles | 118 | 5.5% |
In HS 8708 (parts and accessories of motor vehicles) China accounts for US$26 million, 22.5% of Panama's imports under that code. Panama's own customs figures as published in UN Comtrade, year 2025, retrieved 28 October 2026; revisions are possible.
For the sea leg, iContainers estimates about 30 to 35 days from Shanghai to Balboa on a Pacific loop service and gives no Shanghai-specific figure for the Atlantic-side terminals (iContainers). Which side suits you depends on where your consignee is, so ask your forwarder to quote both.
Can I import from China without a corredor de aduanas? The 2008 customs decree requires a corredor for imports, with exceptions such as personal and household goods of individuals up to B/.4,000 CIF. An order for resale does not fall under that exception, so confirm with your corredor. SourciaVera does not act as a corredor.
Before a corredor clears the goods, someone has to confirm what was packed. Our inspection standards describe how we sample and grade defects, the sample report shows the result, how to choose a provider helps you compare, and the impartiality statement says who pays us.