What does Puerto Barrios / Santo Tomás de Castilla offer for an Atlantic-side operation?

Izabal has the twin Caribbean ports: Puerto Barrios (private, bananas) and Santo Tomás de Castilla (state-owned). Bananas account for 88% of agricultural output in the municipality of Puerto Barrios; the subsoil holds nickel, chromium and copper, and there is heavy commercial and employment activity around both facilities (secondary source). Santo Tomás reported record cargo in 2025 (bananas, nickel, palm oil, fruit). Available regimes: ZOLIC (adjacent to Santo Tomás) and the Puerta del Istmo and Santander ZDEEPs. Izabal's GDP per capita (Q54,310 in 2024, 5th in the country) confirms the economic density of its ports despite the 2023 contraction.