Chiquita returns to Bocas del Toro with $30M investment

Chiquita Brands will resume banana exports from Panama in December 2025 as part of a phased operational restart in the province of Bocas del Toro, government and company officials confirmed during Panama’s National Productive Dialogue Tour with Mercosur.

The announcement follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Chiquita and Panamanian authorities in August, establishing a framework to reorganize the local banana sector. The company plans to invest an initial $30 million and hire 3,000 workers in the first stage of its reactivation.

“The return of Chiquita marks a fundamental step towards recovering an emblematic export and generating new opportunities for the province,” said Panama’s Minister of Trade and Industry Julio Moltó.

Up to 5,000 jobs expected across two phases

Wagner Beig, administrative manager at Chiquita, said the company aims to create an additional 2,000 jobs in a second phase once full export operations resume.

Moltó attributed the restart to coordinated efforts by the Panamanian government, including the Ministries of Labour and Agricultural Development. The agreement signed in Brasília outlines terms for long-term collaboration between Chiquita and the state, including support for sector restructuring.

Chiquita halted its operations in Bocas del Toro in mid-2025 following a prolonged strike related to reforms in Panama’s social security system. The labor action, involving multiple unions including Sitraibana, was triggered by concerns over pension benefits and led to the suspension of exports from the region.

Chiquita’s re-entry into Panama signals a potential boost for the country’s agricultural exports, particularly from the banana sector, which remains a key component of the national economy.

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