Logistical hub in Panama strengthened by Damco and EBL partnership

A partnership to promote imports and re-exports of apparel and fashion between Asia, the Colon Free Zone (CFZ) and Latin American destinations was signed by the Panamanian company Exclusive Brands Logistics Corp (EBL) and Damco Panama.

According to spokesmen, the logistics deal is the first of its nature for the fashion industry in Panama. The hub will handle approximately 35,000 cubic metres of goods per year.

EBL is a leading provider of value-added services, including packing and labeling, to the fashion and apparel industry in the CFZ, the commercial distribution center located at the Atlantic gateway of the Panama Canal.

Under the agreement, EBL will provide specialized services for luxury fashion brands while Damco, the logistics arm of A.P. Moller–Maersk Group and one of the world’s leading 3PLs, will provide supply chain, transportation and freight forwarding services from source to final destination. Together, EBL and Damco will promote Panama as the logistics service center to regional and global businesses looking for strategic, cost–competitive solutions to bring products to the Americas.

“In this partnership there are three key points: the origin of the purchase, the CFZ and the final destination of the goods.  EBL does the value added logistics service in our Panama facilities and Damco does the transportation and international supply chain, allowing customers to focus on their purchasing and sales,” said EBL Managing Director Alfredo Maduro.

As noted in SCMR, the current evolution in Panama’s logistics infrastructure may be transformational for inbound supply chains from Asia to the Americas.

Edgar Blanco, research director at the MIT Center for Transportation & Logistics, told Supply Chain Management Review—LM’s sister publication— that Panama aspires to be a “logistical hub.”

“The entire Caribbean Basin will be transformed once the Canal is expanded,” he said.

Shippers looking to develop transformational hub and distribution solutions will be able to move decision-making much closer to the final markets and react more quickly to changes in supply and demand, ultimately providing better service to their end customers, according to Alison Clafin, Chief Commercial Officer in Latin America for Damco.

“There are vast opportunities in Latin America as the region renovates infrastructure and rising income levels result in unprecedented consumer spending,” said Clafin. “With EBL, our combined strengths in the retail, fashion and lifestyle sector will allow us to bring solutions to global customers wanting to expand strong brand presence with tangible savings from decreased inventories as well as lower warehousing and transportation costs,” Clafin concluded.

In Panama, Damco has warehousing facilities on both the Atlantic and Pacific side, with operations in Panama Pacifico Special Area, in the Corozal processing zone and the industrial area of Parque Sur.