The closure in Panama affects border towns in Costa Rica

Road closures along the Pan American Highway also had economic and social consequences in Costa Rica.

According to the newspaper La Nación, the situation has caused a crisis in the border communities, where queues of more than 100 meters form at the points of sale on the Costa Rican side where Panamanians go.

José Miguel Masís, executive director of the Chamber of Fuel Entrepreneurs Costa Ricahe reminded that the population along the border has a common dynamic of exchange of goods and services, where citizens of both nations circulate from one side to the other without major immigration controls.

Masís stated that a steady supply of fuel was maintained despite high demand.

The executive told CNN that usually one or two tankers are bought a day, but now they have “doubled and even tripled, especially on weekends.”

For his part, Francisco Quirós, vice president of the National Chamber of Freight Transporters of Costa Rica (CANATRAC), said that more than 40 carriers were detained in that country, and “on the Costa Rican side, transit was suspended because the Panamanian authorities are not “They cannot guarantee the safety of the vehicles or goods.”

Costa Rica exports about 600 million dollars a year to Panama and imports 236 million dollars from this country. Losses are currently estimated at 30 million dollars.

To address the situation, sea transportation has become an option for exporters to ship goods from Costa Rica to Panama. This option caused a 27% increase in costs, according to sector leaders.

Moreover, the concern remains because when it arrives in the country it cannot normally be distributed to different points of sale, which means it can be lost.

Closures along the Pan American Highway continue, especially in the western region, making it necessary to bring in essential supplies by air.