TRENOS SiGINT – Panama Banana Strike Disruption

JC – Analyst 13 May, 2025 2 min read

Summary: A strike in Panama’s Bocas del Toro region has resulted in the loss of over 900,000 boxes of bananas, representing an export loss exceeding US$10 million. Triggered by discontent over repealed social security laws, the strike has stalled Chiquita’s operations and threatens future harvests due to crop deterioration. The event raises critical questions about export fragility and the lack of adaptive contingency systems in global fresh produce supply chains.

Key Drivers:

• Labour unrest following repeal of Social Security Fund Law 462

• Lack of harvest leads to spoilage of primary export crop

• Absence of contingency logistics to divert or salvage produce

Signal Sources:

• Chiquita Panama public statement

• Panama President José Raúl Mulino press conference (8 May)

• Reports from Panamanian national media

TRENOS Metrics Snapshot:

Metric	Value	Note
Panama Banana Export Share	17.6% of exports	Highlighting critical dependency on banana trade
Estimated Financial Loss	US$10 million+	From current spoiled fruit alone
Lost Banana Units	900,000 boxes	Irrecoverable due to perishability
Supply Chain Contingency Use	Minimal	No evidence of rerouting or mitigation measures
Strike Duration	11+ days	Expected to escalate if no resolution is reached

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