Dubai-based global logistics giant, DP World, has launched a new freight forwarding office in Panama City, marking its latest expansion in Latin America. The new facility joins the company’s growing network in the region and offers comprehensive services including air freight, customs clearance, warehousing, and multimodal transportation.

Morten Johansen, DP World’s Chief Operating Officer, emphasized Panama’s strategic location, stating that it provides an ideal base for expanding freight forwarding operations. This expansion will allow DP World to offer tailored logistics solutions to customers in Panama and across Latin America, particularly for key industries such as retail, automotive, manufacturing, and healthcare.

Terry Donohoe, Senior Vice President of Freight Forwarding for DP World Americas, highlighted the significance of the new office, explaining that it enhances DP World’s capacity to deliver specialized services. “From traditional air, ocean, and customs brokerage solutions to niche offerings like temperature-controlled shipping for perishables and project cargo handling, we are well-equipped to meet the diverse logistics needs of the Panamanian market,” Donohoe said.

This move follows DP World’s recent opening of a forwarding office in Bogotá, Colombia, in October, complementing its existing operations in Ecuador and Peru. The company has further plans to open a commercial office in Medellín, Colombia, in 2025, adding to its expanding Latin American presence.

In addition to Panama, DP World currently operates forwarding offices in Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, and Suriname. Earlier this year, the company launched operations at its air cargo logistics hub in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. The 10,000-square-meter multimodal facility, developed in collaboration with Grupo Puntacana, offers warehousing and manufacturing services and is part of the Punta Cana Free Trade Zone.

DP World’s expansion in Latin America is part of a broader global strategy that has seen the opening of over 150 new offices since mid-2023, with 20 in the Americas alone. The company aims to grow its global network to more than 180 offices, with additional locations planned across the U.S. and Latin America.