Colon Import & Export

Colon Import & Export is a Panama-based import and export company with over a century of operational history, founded in 1912 on the Caribbean coast and positioned strategically near the Panama Canal. The company began as a barter trader with indigenous communities in the San Blas archipelago, exchanging European goods such as fabrics, threads, and... household items for raw materials including tortoiseshell, balata, ipecac, and coconuts destined for European processing. Following significant disruption during World War II, the company pivoted its business model and opened a hardware store in Colón that achieved substantial success. This transition positioned Colon Import & Export to become one of the founding tenants of the Colón Free Zone when it was established in 1948, an initiative that transformed regional commerce. The company subsequently diversified into liquor distribution and the supply of equipment, hardware, paints, and chemicals for maritime and retail operations throughout the Canal Zone. In 1959, the company expanded further by providing storage and warehousing services, establishing contracts with major multinational corporations including Geigy to manage their inventory needs. By 1979, Colon Import & Export relocated to expanded facilities in the Free Zone France Field area, becoming the second company to establish operations in this newly developed commercial zone. Today, the company operates from a 50,000-square-meter facility encompassing modern office and storage infrastructure equipped with advanced fire protection and security systems meeting international standards. The warehouse network serves as a regional distribution hub for pharmaceuticals, electronics, chemicals, agrochemicals, spirits, and high-value goods, supporting both regional and global supply chains. The company extended its operational footprint internationally by establishing a Miami-based operation in 1985, enabling it to serve North American markets and further strengthen its position as a critical logistics and ...Read More