Panama’s Tuna Boom: Why Buyers Are Looking South

As U.S. seafood distributors and grocers seek high-quality tuna at consistent prices, Panama is emerging as a key supplier in the Western Hemisphere.

While much of the global tuna conversation revolves around Asia, a quiet transformation is happening in Central America. Panama, once a modest player in international seafood trade, is now gaining serious traction - particularly in yellowfin tuna exports to the United States.

With close proximity to U.S. ports Panama offers strategic logistical advantages, especially for fresh and frozen tuna. Its fisheries are rich, and its processing capacity is rapidly modernizing to meet global food safety standards.

Companies like Fish Monger Inc. are at the forefront, sourcing whole boatloads of yellowfin tuna directly from Panamanian fishermen and delivering premium cuts like Saku, fillets, steaks, and H&G to major distributors and supermarkets in the U.S.

“Our direct relationships with Panamanian fishermen let us maintain quality, consistency, and pricing that’s hard to match elsewhere.”

— Barry Hymes, President, Fish Monger Inc.

Add in the favorable trade terms between Panama and the U.S., shorter cold chain transit times, and a growing focus on sustainability, and you have the recipe for a seafood export powerhouse.

For importers seeking a reliable, high-quality tuna source, Panama may be the best-kept secret in the industry—though it won’t stay a secret much longer.