Panama foreign investment fell 61.5% in the first quarter, sharpening a push to use Mercosur ties to draw fresh capital as neighbours pull ahead.

Panama foreign investment fell 61.5% in the first quarter, sharpening a push to use Mercosur ties to draw fresh capital as neighbours pull ahead.

New bank lending in Panama fell about 7% in early 2026, with construction and housing finance hit hardest, a warning sign for the wider economy.