Dried shelled beans market in Panama

Earlier Report Observations

The dried shelled beans market in Panama opened the period with a volume of 13 440 т in 2018, underpinned by steady per capita consumption of about 1.5 kg annually as a dietary staple. Government-backed seed improvement projects in Chiriquí, involving varieties like Barriles and IDIAP R2, aimed to enhance bean quality and spread new cultivars among farmers. Despite these efforts, the market contracted to 11 689 т in 2019, as a sharp drop in imports outweighed stable domestic production.

Market volume recovered to 13 296 т in 2020 and reached a peak of 14 930 т in 2021. This expansion was supported by ongoing government purchase programs through the Institute of Agricultural Marketing (IMA), which guaranteed demand for local chiricano bean producers and involved contracts worth over a million dollars. However, from 2022 onward, adverse climate variability—including hurricanes Eta and Iota, reduced rainfall, and significant production losses—cut agricultural output. This climatic pressure contributed to a market decline to 11 748 т in 2022.

Climatic challenges persisted into 2023, further reducing sown area and bean production, which pushed market volume down to 10 636 т. Throughout the latter part of the period, the IMA continued its policy of purchasing beans for food solidarity programs, illustrating sustained public efforts to stabilize the sector amid environmental headwinds.

Production dried shelled beans in Panama

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of dried shelled beans, 2017-2020

World map of production of dried shelled beans, 2017-2020

In 2019, Panama's production of dried shelled beans reached its lowest point at 5,772 tonnes, with a decline of 2.9% that year. By 2020, production had recovered to 5,972 tonnes, marking a gradual increase of 3.5% compared to the previous year.

Annual dynamics of production in Panama in kind, 2017-2020, t

In value, 2017-2020, K $ US

In 2019, the value of dried shelled bean production in Panama saw its largest decline of 3.7%. However, by 2020, output had rebounded strongly to $6,986,000 US, reflecting a robust advance of 14.7% over the prior year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production increased by 15.9%, with a compound annual growth rate of 5.0%.

Annual dynamics of production in Panama in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Exports dried shelled beans from Panama

Exports in kind, t

Panama's exports of dried shelled beans declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, export volume stood at just 1 tonne, down by 99.5% year-over-year. Between 2017 and 2020, exports decreased by 100%, equating to an annualized rate of 92.3%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Panama in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, Panama's dried shelled beans were primarily shipped to Venezuela, which accounted for 95.1% of total exports in volume terms.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Panama in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, K $ US

Exports of dried shelled beans from Panama declined for the third year in a row. In 2020, exports amounted to $2,000 US, representing a steep decline of 99.4% compared to the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, exports decreased by 99.9%, with an annualized rate of 91.9%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Panama in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Over the period 2017–2020, Panama's export market for dried shelled beans was heavily dependent on Venezuela, which accounted for 95.1% of total exports in value terms.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Panama in value, 2017-2020

Imports dried shelled beans to Panama

Imports in kind, t

In 2019, Panama's imports of dried shelled beans hit their lowest point at 6,160 tonnes, with the largest decline of 26.5% recorded that year. After two years of losses, imports rebounded in 2020 to approximately 7,326 tonnes, representing a robust increase of 18.9% compared to 2019. However, over the full period from 2017 to 2020, imports decreased by 15.2%, with a compound annual growth rate of 5.4%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Panama in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, the United States remained the leading supplier of dried shelled beans to Panama, accounting for 70.5% of total imports in volume terms, while the rest was distributed among many other countries.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Panama in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, K $ US

In 2019, the value of dried shelled bean imports into Panama reached its minimum at $7,519,000 US, with the largest decline of 22.4% that year. After a two-year decline, imports increased in 2020 to $10,082,000 US, marking a gain of 34.1% relative to the prior year.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Panama in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

In the period 2017–2020, Panama's imports of dried shelled beans in value terms were strongly focused on the United States, whose share reached 73.2% of total flows, with other partners accounting for the remaining volume.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Panama in value, 2017-2020