Panamanian consumers perceive U.S. food products, including pet food, as high quality, wholesome and reliable, which has resulted in continuous growth in demand, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service. Panama is the 23rd largest market for U.S. consumer-oriented products, with exports totaling US$610.9 million in 2022. Since 2012, the U.S.-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement has boosted this trade.
Requirements for US exports to Panama
From a USDA Foreign Agricultural Service report: In June 2014, pet food certification requirements were simplified following an exchange of letters between USTR and the Panamanian Ministries of Agriculture, Health, and Commerce. This agreement entered into force through AUPSA’s Scientific and Technical Council of Food Safety Resolution No. 002 of 2015, by which it modified Resolution No. 001 of 2007. This resolution recognized the U.S. SPS’s equivalence for importing meats, poultry, dairy and other animal products used in pet food. It also contained provisions related to certification requirements.
The amendment of the resolution simplified U.S. pet food exports to Panama containing animal-origin ingredients. The revised certification statements on USDA APHIS export certificates that accompany U.S. shipments of pet food containing animal-origin ingredients to Panama are:
1. The products may be freely sold in the United States as pet food.
2. Dry, semi-moist, and dehydrated pet food products were subjected during processing to a heat temperature designed to ensure the destruction of pathogenic agents harmful to animals.
3. Canned pet food products have been treated in hermetically sealed containers with an F0 of 3.0 or more.
4. The product has been hygienically handled and packed in clean containers made of impermeable, hermetic, and strong materials that are sufficient to protect the product from environmental contamination and safeguard commercial sterility obtained during thermal processing. MIDA’s Resolution No. ADM-DSA-040-2022 of September 22, 2022, establishes the procedure for sanitary registration and importation of pet food from the United States of America.
Size of the Panamanian pet food market
The Panamanian pet food market has grown steadily since 2020, and analysts with Statista forecast it to continue growing into 2029. Panama’s pet food market revenues are projected to reach US$126.80m in 2024 with a 5.09% compound annual growth rate from 2024-2029. The analysts forecast that pet food market volume will amount to 89.94 millon kg by 2029, following volume growth of 3.4% in 2025.