2026 Latin America (Panama) International Tire and Automotive Parts Exhibition The Latin Tyre Expo and the Latin Auto Parts Expo 2026

2026 Latin America (Panama) International Tire and Automotive Parts Exhibition

The Latin Tyre Expo and the Latin Auto Parts Expo 2026

I. Exhibition Overview

Exhibition Name: 2026 Latin America (Panama) International Tire and Automotive Parts Exhibition

Exhibition Dates: August 12–14, 2026

Exhibition Venue: Amador Convention Center

Organizing Entity: Shandong Zhenghe International Exhibition Co., Ltd.

II. Exhibition Overview

Since 2010, the organizer, Latin Expo Group, has been hosting the Latin America (Panama) International Tire Exhibition and the Latin America (Panama) International Auto Parts Exhibition in Panama. Thanks to effective buyer outreach and professional event management, the exhibition’s exhibit space has expanded by 80%, with a repeat‑exhibitor rate exceeding 90%. The newly completed Amador Convention Center, larger in scale and better equipped, opened in 2020, enabling the two exhibitions to be held concurrently. In 2025, the Latin America (Panama) International Tire and Auto Parts Exhibition attracted more than 650 exhibiting companies.

Panama is a strategic crossroads connecting Central, South, and North America, serving a market of 120 million people across more than twenty countries. It has been dubbed the “Hong Kong of the Caribbean” and the “Dubai of the Caribbean.” In recent years, Panama has continued to open its economy to international trade, seeking to strengthen its position as a regional trade hub through reciprocal trade agreements and visa‑free travel arrangements with numerous countries in Central and South America. For tire manufacturers and automotive parts suppliers, as well as traders from around the world, Panama represents an ideal base for entering the Central and South American and Caribbean markets.

III. Overview of Panama

1. Preferential tariff rates

Panama is one of the countries in Latin America with the lowest import tariffs. As of January 1998, the average import tariff stands at 8.25%. Goods entering the Colón Free Trade Zone may be imported, stored, processed, repackaged, and re-exported without payment of import duties or other taxes. No consular fees or any other charges are levied on vessels entering or departing the free trade zone bound for foreign destinations. Within the free zone, sales tax, production tax, and investment tax are exempt. Import duties are waived on machinery, raw materials, and equipment used in production. Capital gains arising from the sale of assets held for more than two years are not subject to capital gains tax. With respect to foreign investment, only the portion derived from profits is taxed at a reduced rate.

2. Incentive Policies

Panama’s Law on Incentives for Domestic and Foreign Sales provides that enterprises whose products are entirely exported are exempt from income tax, export tax, manufacturing tax, and import duties on raw materials and components required for production. Enterprises with partially exported products may avail themselves of preferential treatment proportional to their export share.

3. Favorable re-export conditions

Panama is a beneficiary of the U.S. Caribbean Basin Initiative and the Generalized System of Preferences, meaning that products manufactured in Panama can be exported to the United States and Europe without quota restrictions and at preferential tariff rates, provided they meet rules of origin requirements. Over the years, Panama’s Colón Free Trade Zone has established itself as a major trade hub in Latin America, serving as a key distribution center and re-export gateway for the region. As a result, it offers diverse sales channels and extensive market access. With inventory readily available in Panama, goods can swiftly be re‑exported through various channels to North America, other Latin American countries, and Europe. Trade within the free trade zone is relatively less susceptible to adverse economic conditions in any single Latin American country or region. Furthermore, imports and exports between Panama and countries with which it has concluded trade agreements or other preferential arrangements are exempt from customs duties; these countries include Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Colombia. Foreign‑invested enterprises operating in Panama are treated on par with domestic firms and thus enjoy these favorable treatment measures.

4. No foreign exchange controls; free capital transfers.

Panama is home to more than a hundred international banks, and major, well‑established banks from around the world maintain branches or representative offices there. The Bank of China also established a branch in Panama in 1993. Bank deposits in Panama are tax‑free, subject to no foreign‑exchange controls, and profits can be freely remitted in and out of the country.

IV. Advantages of the Cologne Free Trade Zone

Within Panama, at the Atlantic entrance of the Panama Canal, lies the largest free trade zone in the Western Hemisphere and the second-largest in the world, after Hong Kong, China. The investment climate is favorable, with stable policies. Established in 1948, the zone boasts a long history; the local government has enacted specific legislation to provide guarantees and incentives, ensuring legal protection for investors. Company registration in the free zone is straightforward, with swift approval processes. Panama’s national currency, the balboa, serves only as a subsidiary unit, while the U.S. dollar is the country’s official currency—one of the few nations without its own national currency. Trade settlements are conducted in U.S. dollars, sparing investors from concerns about currency devaluation or appreciation—advantages not shared by many other countries. Within the free zone, imports are unrestricted, subject to no quotas and exempt from import duties; goods destined for re-export enjoy similar tax‑free treatment. Goods move freely throughout the zone. The corporate income tax rate stands at 8.6%.

For many years, Panama’s Colón Free Trade Zone has established itself as a major trade hub in Latin America, serving as a distribution center, a re-export gateway, and a base for smuggling. As a result, it boasts diverse sales channels and an extensive customer network. With inventory readily available in Panama, goods can swiftly be re‑exported through various routes to North America, other Latin American countries, and Europe. Trade within the free zone is relatively insulated from the adverse effects of economic conditions in any single Latin American country or region. The zone is home to numerous shops offering a wide array of world‑renowned brands, and Chinese products enjoy strong popularity.

V. Scope of Exhibition

Tire and Wheel Area: Various types of tires and wheels; inner tubes; tire and wheel accessories; tire retreading and repair equipment and tools; tire repair materials; tire and wheel manufacturing technologies and equipment, among others.

Automotive Parts Section: Various automotive components (chassis parts, engine systems, steering systems, heating and cooling systems, automotive electronics, cabs, etc.); automotive repair and maintenance tools and equipment; automotive manufacturing technologies and equipment; a wide range of automotive accessories and aftermarket parts (seat cushions, floor mats, headlights, horns, instrument panels, mufflers, etc.); gas stations and car wash facilities, among others.

VI. Contact Information

Shandong Zhenghe International Exhibition Co., Ltd.

Address: Room 905, Building 1, Xiangtai Plaza, No. 129 Yingxiongshan Road, Shizhong District, Jinan City

Contact: Zheng Xiao Phone: 0531-82726908, 18854113262

Fax: 0531-86085342 Email: sdzhexpo@126.com