Panama's gross domestic product grew 5.4 percent in the third quarter of this year, the government statistics body said, helped by domestic demand and a busy Panama Canal. The most dynamic sectors were trade, transport/communications and financial services. Operations at the country's famous canal grew 17.5 percent, the government said.
In the first half of 2017, the economy grew 5.8 percent. The Panamanian government has forecast the economy will grow 5.5 percent in full-year 2017, above the 5 percent expansion rate seen in 2016, according to official figures.