By Hugo Moran R. April 26, 2017

1. THE 2016 PANAMA ANTI-COUNTERFEITING
REPORT
Behind the flow, from the source to the final destination.
Hugo Moran Rodriguez
April 26th, 2017
Panama City, Republic of Panama

2. BACKGROUND
• Panama has a population of 3.8 million. The country economy is based on services, which includes maritime
and logistic services. The Panama Canal, including the Expanded Locks, facilitate the trade of all kinds of
goods from coast to coast.
• Five containers ports operate in Panama: Balboa and The Port of Singapore Authority (known as “PSA”) in
the Pacific side, and Manzanillo, Colon Container Terminal and Cristobal Ports in the Atlantic side.
• In 2016, 6.2 million TEU containers touched Panamanian ports. 80% of the containers were in transit with
final destination to other countries of The Americas, 13% to The Colon Free Zone, at Colon City, Panama (the
main free economic zone in Latin America), and 7% to the in-market. Based on its geographical position and
the development of the logistic sectors, Panama is a key country for goods in transit.
• Since 1996, the Panama Customs Authority has the power to inspect and seize counterfeit goods and other
infringing goods, in transit.
• The present study is intended to provide to brand owners with an overview of enforcement activities in
Panamanian ports. The monitoring and analysis is based on seizures conducted by the Panama Customs
Authority from January 1st, 2016 to December 31st, 2016, at Panamanian container ports. The seizure data,
includes shipping documents and other public available information contained in each seizure dockets
processed by Customs. It does not include in-market seizures by Panama IP Prosecutor in fiscal territory, The
Colon Free Zone, Colon city, nor Panamanian airports.

3. COMMON ROUTES: FROM THE ORIGIN TO FINAL DESTINATION
PORTS OF LOADING PORTS IN TRANSIT PORT OF DISCHARGE
NINGBO, CHINA MANZANILLO, COLON CITY, PANAMA
NINGBO, CHINA
COLON CONTAINER TERMINAL, COLON CITY,
PANAMA
COLON CONTAINER TERMINAL, COLON CITY,
PANAMA
COLON CONTAINER TERMINAL, COLON
CITY, PANAMA
CABELLO, VENEZUELA
COLON CONTAINER TERMINAL, COLON
CITY, PANAMA
LA GUAIRA, VENEZUELA
XIAMEN, CHINA
COLON CONTAINER TERMINAL, COLON CITY,
PANAMA
LA GUAIRA, VENEZUELA
MANZANILLO, COLON CITY, PANAMA CABELLO, VENEZUELA
YANTIAN, CHINA
COLON CONTAINER TERMINAL, COLON CITY,
PANAMA
CABELLO, VENEZUELA
CHIWAN, CHINA CRISTOBAL, COLON CITY, PANAMA CABELLO, VENEZUELA
NINGBO, CHINA
COLON CONTAINER TERMINAL, COLON CITY,
PANAMA
CAUCEDO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
NINGBO, CHINA MANZANILLO, COLON CITY, PANAMA CAUCEDO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
NINGBO, CHINA
COLON CONTAINER TERMINAL, COLON CITY,
PANAMA
RIO HAINA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
HUANGPU OLD PORT, CHINA BALBOA, PANAMA CITY, PANAMA BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS
XIAMEN, CHINA MANZANILLO, COLON CITY, PANAMA SANTIAGO, CUBA
NINGBO, CHINA
COLON CONTAINER TERMINAL, COLON CITY,
PANAMA
CORTES, SAN PEDRO SULA, HONDURAS

4. COMMON ROUTES: FROM THE ORIGIN TO FINAL DESTINATION
PORTS OF LOADING PORTS IN TRANSIT PORT OF DISCHARGE
NINGBO, CHINA BALBOA, PANAMA CITY, PANAMA ARICA, CHILE - (FINAL DESTINATION BOLIVIA)
NINGBO, CHINA BALBOA, PANAMA CITY, PANAMA ARICA, CHILE - (FINAL DESTINATION BOLIVIA)
YANTIAN, CHINA
COLON CONTAINER TERMINAL, COLON CITY,
PANAMA
GUANGZHOU, CHINA
COLON CONTAINER TERMINAL, COLON CITY,
PANAMA
SHANGHAI, CHINA
COLON CONTAINER TERMINAL, COLON CITY,
PANAMA
NANSHA, CHINA
COLON CONTAINER TERMINAL, COLON CITY,
PANAMA
NINGBO, CHINA
COLON CONTAINER TERMINAL, COLON CITY,
PANAMA
HAUNGPU, CHINA
COLON CONTAINER TERMINAL, COLON CITY,
PANAMA
XIAMEN, CHINA MANZANILLO, COLON CITY, PANAMA
HUANGPU, CHINA BALBOA, PANAMA CITY, PANAMA
YANTIAN, CHINA MANZANILLO, COLON CITY, PANAMA
XIAMEN, CHINA BALBOA, PANAMA CITY, PANAMA
LONG BEACH, CA, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA CRISTOBAL, COLON CITY, PANAMA
NINGBO, CHINA BALBOA, PANAMA CITY PANAMA

5. COMMON ROUTES: FROM THE ORIGIN TO FINAL DESTINATION
PORTS OF LOADING PORTS IN TRANSIT PORT OF DISCHARGE
LIANYUNGANG, CHINA
COLON CONTAINTER TERMINAL, COLON CITY,
PANAMA
CORTES, SAN PEDRO SULA, HONDURAS
MANZANILLO, COLON CITY, PANAMA LISAS, TRINIDAD & TOBAGO
NINGBO, CHINA
COLON CONTAINER TERMINAL, COLON CITY,
PANAMA
CARTAGENA, COLOMBIA
NINGBO, CHINA BALBOA, PANAMA CITY, PANAMA ACAJUTLA, EL SALVADOR

6. MOST USED PORTS OF LOADING
38%
16%
11%
11%
8%
5%
3%
2%
2% 2% 1% 1% 38% NINGBO, CHINA
16% XIAMEN, CHINA
11% HUANGPU, CHINA
11% YANTIAN, CHINA
8% COLON CONTAINER TERMINAL, COLON
CITY, PANAMA
5% NANSHA, CHINA
3% MANZANILLO, COLON CITY, PANAMA
2% GUANGZHOU, CHINA
2% LIANYUNGANG, CHINA
2% CHIWAN, CHINA
1% SHANGHAI, CHINA
1% LONG BEACH, CA, UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA

7. MOST USED PORTS OF TRANSIT
56%34%
8%
2%
COLON CONTAINER TERMINAL, COLON
CITY, PANAMA
BALBOA, PANAMA CITY, PANAMA
MANZANILLO, COLON CITY, PANAMA
CRISTOBAL, COLON CITY, PANAMA

8. 25%
17%
13%
11%
5%
5%
5%
3%
3%
3%
2%
2%
2% 2% 1% 1% 25% COLON CONTAINER TERMINAL, COLON CITY,
PANAMA
17% CABELLO, VENEZUELA
13% ARICA, CHILE - TRANSIT TO BOLIVIA
11% BALBOA, PANAMA
5% LA GUAIRA, VENEZUELA
5% BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS
5% CAUCEDO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
3% CORTES, SAN PEDRO SULA, HONDURAS
3% RIO HAINA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
3% SANTIAGO, CUBA
2% CRISTOBAL, COLON CITY, PANAMA
2% ACAJUTLA, EL SALVADOR
2% LISAS, TRINIDAD & TOBAGO
2% CARTAGENA, COLOMBIA
1% BARRANQUILLA, COLOMBIA
1% MANZANILLO, COLON CITY, PANAMA
MOST USED PORTS OF DISCHARGE

9. HOW OFFENDERS ARE DESCRIBING COUNTERFEIT GOODS
AS SHOWN IN THE BILL OF LADING WHAT CUSTOMS FOUND
BACKPACK, PHOTO BOOKS, PENCILS, PLASTIC TABLE, CHAIR
WINNIE THE POOH THE PHOTO ALBUM, MICKEY MOUSE PHOTO ALBUM,
PRINCESS SOFIA PHOTO ALBUM, PEPA THE PIG BACKPACKS, MINIONS
BACKPACKS
WALLET, BAG, BOX, CUPS, MASK, PEN, PHOTO, FRAME, PUZZLE, RULER,
TOY
DESPICABLE ME TOYS
PUZZLE, FIGUREHEADS, SMALL DISHES
MINIONS GIFT BAGS, SPIDERMAN GIFT BAGS, FROZEN PUZZLES, SOFIA THE FIRST
PUZZLES
CUPS, PLATE PARTY HAT, ACCESSORY MINIONS CUPS, MINIONS COLORING BOOKS
PLASTIC GUNS, TELEPHONE, PURSE, GUITARS, PLANE
TOY STORY PLASTIC GUNS, MINIONS PLASTIC PHONES, WINNIE THE POOH
COLORING BOOKS
BALLOONS, CARD, GIFT, PARTY ACCESSORIES
MINIONS HELIUM BALLOONS, MICKEY MOUSE HELIUM BALLOONS, CARS HELIUM
BALLOONS
ARTIFICIAL FLOWERS, CELLPHONE, CARDS
MINIONS CELL PHONE COVERS, SAMSUMG GALAXY COVERS, IPHONE 5S
COVERS, SAMSUNG J7, J5, S4, S3 COVERS
CHARGER CELL BATTERY FOR AUDIO, METAL SCAFFOLDING TO
TABLES
MINIONS SANTA CLAUS RADIOS, SAMSUNG GALAXY S6 HEADSETS, MINIONS
RADIO BATTERIES, HELLO KITTY COVERS FOR MOBILE PHONES, MINNIE MOUSE
COVERS FOR CELL PHONE
TENT, UMBRELLAS, LED FLASHLIGHT, COMPASS OF MAN
MICKEY MOUSE UMBRELLAS FOR KIDS, SPIDERMAN UMBRELLAS FOR KIDS,
MINIONS UMBRELLAS FOR KIDS, HELLO KITTY UMBRELLA FOR KIDS

10. AS SHOWN IN THE BILL OF LADING WHAT CUSTOMS FOUND
BACKPACK, GAME OF GEOMETRY CALCULATOR SCIENTIFIC MINIONS BACKPACKS
CLOTHING, PERFUMES, WATCH, BAG CHARGER, CASE FOR
GARMENT, DRY FOOD
SAMSUNG CHARGERS WITH UL LOGO, HUGO BOSS PERFUMES,
IPHONE COVERS
MOBILE PHONE FILM, JEWELRY BOX, JEWELRY, MOBILE
PHONE COVER
SAMSUNG BATTERY, 720 ADIDAS HEADPHONES, SAMSUNG
CHARGERS WITH LOGO UL, BEATS HEADPHONES
MOBILE CHARGES, BATTERY, HEARING AID, TOYS
BEATS BY DR. DRE HEADPHONES, CHARGERS WITH UL LOGO, BEATS
HEADPHONES, STAR WARS TOYS
CLOTHING, FOOTWEAR, ARTICLE CELL, BACKPACK
SPIDERMAN LUNCHBOXES, PEPPA PIG LUNCHBOXES, FROZEN
LUNCHBOXES, PRINCESS SOFIA LUNCHBOX, AEROPOSTALE PANTS,
NIKE PANTS FOR LADIES, LG CHARGERS, LONGCHAMP HANDBAGS
WATCHES, ACCESSORIES, CLOTHES
SEIKO WATCHES, GUESS WATCHES, AND WATCHES BEARING
BARCELONA LOGO
BEDSHEET, CARPET, TOYS, BLOUSES, SHOES NEW BALANCE SHOES
SANDALS, TOOTHBRUSH, GOMA SCHOOL, SPONGE, TOWEL,
PENS, SMALL TAPES
CROCS KNOCK-OFF FLIP-FLOPS
HOW OFFENDERS ARE DESCRIBING COUNTERFEIT GOODS

11. HOW OFFENDERS ARE DESCRIBING COUNTERFEIT GOODS
AS SHOWN IN THE BILL OF LADING WHAT CUSTOMS FOUND
SLIPPER, BROOM, SOCK, RUBBER, TOOTHBRUSH, TERMINAL
HP USB MEMORIES, NIKE HEADSETS, ADIDAS HEADSETS, SAMSUNG
CHARGERS
WALLET, PARTY ACCESSORIES, CHARGES, SHOES LOUIS VUITTON WALLETS
EARPHONE, PLAY CONTROL, CHARGER, TOILET PAPER,
BATTERY CELL
BEATS BY DR. DRE HEADSETS, SONY MOBILE PHONE BATTERIES,
PLAYSTATION CONTROL
WALLET, SHOES, UMBRELLA
NICOLE LEE WALLETS, MICHAEL KORS HAIRPINS, CHANEL HAIRPINS,
MICHAEL KORS ACCESSORIES, NICOLE LEE NECKLACES
SPORT SHOES, CLOTHES
ADIDAS SHOES, LACOSTE SHOES, REEBOOK SHOES, CONVERSE
SHOES
FOOTBALL PLASTIC TREE, HAIR NETS, HATS, MIRRORS, HAIR
BANDS, HAIR CLIPS, STORAGE SHELF, CRAYONS
POKEMON TOYS, ROSITA FRESITA TOYS, BARBIE DOLLS
SHOES, FLIP-FLOPS NIKE SHOES
BAG PLUSH TOYS, STATIONERY SET NOTEBOOK, PLASTIC
TOYS, PLASTIC BALL
MINNIE MOUSE BACKPACKS, FROZEN BACKPACKS, SPIDERMAN
BACKPACKS, CARS BACKPACKS AND MICKEY MOUSE BACKPACKS
BELT, TICKET FOLDER, BAG, PU BAG
AUDI BELTS, MERCEDES BENZ BELTS, MAZDA BELTS, NICOLE LEE
WALLETS, TOMMY HILFIGER HANDBAGS, KNOCK-OFF JENNIFER LOPEZ
HANDBAGS
CASUAL SHOES KNOCK-OFF ADIDAS SHOES

12. HOW OFFENDERS ARE DESCRIBING COUNTERFEIT GOODS
AS SHOWN IN THE BILL OF LADING WHAT CUSTOMS FOUND
PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS, AUTO PARTS, FOOTWEAR
AND ACCESSORIES, NECKLACE, CLOTHING
PUMA SHOES
SPORT ACCESSORIES NIKE SHOES
WATCHES, UMBRELLAS, HANDS FREE DEVICES, WALLETS NICOLE LEE HANDBAGS
MOBILE ACCESSORIES GAME SAMSUNG CHARGERS
SHOES ADIDAS SHOES, NIKE SHOES
MOBILE PHONE ACCESSORIES SAMSUNG CHARGERS
DRY GOODS, SHOES NEW BALANCE SHOES, ADIDAS SHOES, ASICS SHOES, VANS SHOES
SLIPPER, WALL PAPER CABLE, CHARGE, CASE, CHARGER
PACKING
ADIDAS SHOES, SAMSUNG EARPHONES, UL CHARGERS, NIKE SHOES
SHOES, RUGS, TAPES, RAINCOAT, BELLS, OPP BAG CROCS SHOES
LADY BAGS, SHOES ACCESSORIES, MACHINE, SPEAKERS,
CELL PHONE CASES, MOTORCYCLES PARTS
BABYLISS DRY HAIR AND BABYLISS HAIR BRUSH

13. 284,373
222,273211,470
118,409
83,168
57,072
5,050
4,902
4,694 4,425 3,260
849
480
284,373 - MOBILE ACCESSORIES
222,273 - PERSONAL CARE
211,470 - FOOTWEAR
118,409 - TOYS
83,168 - SCHOOL SUPPLIES
57,072 - PARTY SUPPLIES
5,050 - LEATHER GOODS
4,902 - WATCHES
4,694 - ELECTRONIC DEVICES
4,425 - JEWELRY
3,260 - HOME SUPPLIES
849 - TEXTILES, CLOTHING AND
ACCESORIES
480 - PERFUMERY AND COSMETICS
SEIZURES PER INDUSTRY
1,000,425 COUNTERFEIT GOODS WERE SEIZED FROM JANUARY 1ST, 2016
TO DECEMBER 31ST, 2016:

14. CONCLUSION
• China is the country of origin from all counterfeit goods subject to seizure in 2016. Ningbo, Xiamen and
Huangpu are the main loading ports of counterfeit goods. Mobile accessories, personal care products,
footwear, and toys represent more than 80% of the seized counterfeit goods in Panama.
• 61% of the seizures were consignment in transit, with final destination to other Latin America
countries. 22% of seized goods had Venezuela as final destination. 13% to Bolivia, in transit throughout
Chile. The seizure of counterfeit goods to some Caribbean Islands represents 18% (Rio Haina and
Caucedo, Dominican Republic; Bridgetown, Barbados; Santiago, Cuba and Lisas, Trinidad & Tobago).
• 28% of the seizures were performed at ports established in Colon city, Panama. The study reveals that
some of the seizures were consignments shipped to companies doing business at the Colon Free Zone,
Colon city, Panama. Said free trade zone is still a sensitive hub of counterfeit goods.
• According to Panama Customs Authority, the estimated value of the seized goods in 2016 was
USD21,000,139.00 (replacement value).
• Understanding the flow of counterfeit goods is a key issue to fight illicit trade. Seizures provide customs
with intelligence and valuable information for understanding trends. As a country of transit, it is
mandatory that customs focuses their risk analysis activities in profiling suspect consignments with final
destination to other countries where IP enforcement is missing or minimum measures are established.

15. CONCLUSION
• In the year 2012, Customs authorities seized more than 233 TEU containers in Panamanian
ports. In the year 2016, only 56 containers were seized.
• Panama is a country of transit which facilitates trade in The Americas. On Sunday, March
19th, 2017, the container ship MSC Anzu was the 1,000 NeoPanamax ship to travel through
the Expanded Panama Canal since its opening on June 26th, 2016. With The Panama Canal
Expansion, the main routes are the following: 51.2% Asia to US East Coast; 17.5% South
America West Coast to US East Coast; 10% South America West Coast to Europe; 7.8 Central
America West Coast to US East Coast and 6% Europe to US West Coast and Canada. It is
estimated that 18 million TEW containers shall reach Panamanian ports in the year 2021. The
Panamanian authorities must carry out their best efforts to secure the fight against unlawful
trade, particularly counterfeits and smuggling, in order to turn Panama into the regional
logistics center of The Americas.