Classification
Product TypeRaw Material
Product FormDried
Industry PositionPrimary Agricultural Product
Raw Material
Market
Almonds in Panama function primarily as an import-dependent consumer and ingredient market, supplied mainly through commercial food import channels. Trade data for shelled almonds (HS 080212) indicates imports in 2024 were concentrated from the United States, with smaller volumes sourced from Chile and other origins. Market availability is effectively year-round via imports rather than a domestic harvest season. Market access and continuity depend heavily on compliant food import notification/clearance processes and on meeting labeling and sanitary registration expectations for prepackaged foods.
Market RoleImport-dependent consumer and ingredient market (net importer)
Domestic RolePrimarily consumed as a snack nut and as an ingredient for baking, confectionery, and foodservice; domestic production is not significant
SeasonalityYear-round availability driven by imports; no meaningful domestic harvest season.
Specification
Physical Attributes- Clean, well-dried kernels; freedom from foreign material and visible mold
- Uniform kernel sizing and low defect tolerance (broken/split, insect damage) as per buyer specification
Compositional Metrics- Moisture control to reduce mold and rancidity risk
Grades- U.S. Fancy
- U.S. Extra No. 1
- U.S. No. 1
Packaging- Bulk cartons/bags for wholesale and industrial users
- Retail prepacked formats with Spanish labeling and lot identification
Supply Chain
Value Chain- Origin processor/packer → sea freight → Panama port entry → APA import notification workflow + customs clearance → importer/wholesaler → retail and foodservice distribution
Temperature- Ambient transport is typical, but quality is sensitive to heat and humidity; keep cool and dry to limit rancidity and mold risk.
Atmosphere Control- Oxygen and moisture control (e.g., hermetic packaging; vacuum or inert gas for retail packs) helps reduce oxidation and quality loss.
Shelf Life- Shelf-life performance depends on moisture control and prevention of oxidative rancidity during storage and distribution.
Freight IntensityLow
Transport ModeSea
Risks
Regulatory Compliance HighNon-compliance with Panama’s food import notification/accreditation workflow (APA, including SISNIA/SIT processes) and/or prepackaged food sanitary registration and Spanish labeling expectations (MINSA) can result in import holds, delays, or rejection/seizure at entry or in-market controls.Confirm current APA requirements ('resueltos') for the exact almond form and origin, complete importer accreditation, file SISNIA/SIT notifications correctly, and pre-validate Spanish labels and required dossiers for any prepackaged retail SKUs.
Food Safety MediumTree nuts, including almonds, carry a known aflatoxin contamination risk that can trigger rejection or recall if buyer or authority limits are exceeded, especially when storage and moisture control are weak.Require lot-level aflatoxin testing/COAs from suppliers, enforce dry storage and humidity controls, and align sampling/testing plans with recognized Codex guidance where applicable.
Supply Concentration MediumPanama’s shelled almond imports are heavily concentrated from the United States; supply shocks (crop shortfalls, logistics disruptions, or price swings) in the dominant origin can quickly affect Panama availability and pricing.Qualify secondary origins and maintain flexible contracting (multiple origins/specs) to reduce single-origin dependency.
Sustainability- Supply concentration exposure to upstream climate/water risks in key source regions (notably U.S. origin), which can tighten availability and increase prices for Panama importers.
FAQ
Is Panama mainly an importer or producer of almonds?Panama is primarily an import-dependent market for almonds, with trade data showing shelled almond imports (HS 080212) in 2024 and no evidence of significant domestic production in this record.
Which origin supplied most of Panama’s shelled almond imports in 2024?UN Comtrade data published via WITS shows the United States as the dominant supplier of Panama’s shelled almond imports (HS 080212) in 2024, with Chile as a smaller secondary supplier.
What are the most common compliance steps to import prepackaged almonds into Panama?Panama’s process centers on completing the APA import notification workflow (including SISNIA/SIT processes) and, for prepackaged retail products, meeting MINSA sanitary registration and Spanish labeling requirements (e.g., ingredients, country of origin, lot ID, expiry date, and storage instructions).