Buy Containers from Panama's Ports
Panama moves millions of containers a year through its ports, and the vast majority is transshipment: boxes arrive, wait in a yard and sail on. When a shipping line retires a unit from its fleet, that box is sold at the depots around the ports — and that's where we buy. This guide explains how Panama's port ecosystem works, where used containers actually come from, and how to buy one straight from this chain, inspected and delivered to any province.
Contents
Panama's ports: where used containers come from
Panama has the most active port system in Latin America, split across two oceans:
Port of Balboa (Pacific): operated by Panama Ports Company (Hutchison Ports), minutes from Panama City. Millions of TEU per year.
Manzanillo International Terminal — MIT (Atlantic): in Colón, one of the largest transshipment terminals in the Americas, next to a logistics park full of container depots.
Colon Container Terminal — CCT (Atlantic): the Evergreen group's terminal at Coco Solo, Colón.
Port of Cristóbal (Atlantic): operated by Panama Ports Company, beside the Colón Free Zone.
PSA Panama International Terminal (Pacific): at Rodman, the Pacific entrance of the Canal.
Around these terminals operate the container depots and yards: facilities where shipping lines store empty boxes, run inspections and repairs, and sell off units retired from their fleets. When you search for "port containers", "container depot Panama" or "surplus containers", what you're really looking for sits in these yards — and Containero's inventory comes from this chain.
Why does Panama have so many used containers?
Close to 90% of Panama's port movement is transshipment: cargo changes ships here. That forces carriers to keep huge inventories of empty boxes in Panamanian yards to reposition equipment between routes.
A typical container works 10-15 years at sea. When a line renews its fleet, retired units are sold where they sit — and because Panama is the hub, many end their careers right here. The result: more local supply, better available grades and more competitive prices than in countries that must import their used containers.
These "ex-fleet" units come from the world's major shipping lines operating the Canal and our ports. We don't sell any particular carrier's brand and are not affiliated with any shipping line: we buy retired units on condition, inspect them and grade them (WWT, Cargo Worthy, One-Trip).
Buying from this chain: depot pickup or delivery
Depot pickup (depot release): if you have your own transport or you're an export buyer, we coordinate release of the unit at a yard near Colón or Panama City. Useful for SOC shipments and international buyers.
Delivery to your site: the most common option. We quote one final number — container + transport + offloading — and deliver to any province. The proximity of the yards to the ports is why lead times in Panama are short: typically 3-7 business days in the metro area.
Inspection: every unit is checked before sale (floor, roof, doors, corners, watertightness) and we send real photos of the exact box. If you need CSC certification to ship the unit again, we coordinate the survey and recertification.
Frequently Asked Questions
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