Tradle #198 Answer & Hints — December 28, 2022
Stuck on the December 28, 2022 Tradle? Climb the hint ladder first — the full answer and a data breakdown of its export fingerprint are one click below.
Hint 1 — Continent
This country is in North America.
Hint 2 — First letter
Its name starts with P.
Hint 3 — Top export
Its biggest export category is Ores, Slag and Ash (total exports $6.8B).
▓▓ Click to reveal the Tradle #198 answer ▓▓
01Why Panama? The Export Fingerprint
Panama's chart is led by Ores, Slag and Ash at 44%, but the supporting blocks matter just as much — the combination is what makes this fingerprint readable.
| # | Export category | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ores, Slag and Ash | $3.0B | 43.9% |
| 2 | Ships, boats, & floating structures | $840M | 12.4% |
| 3 | Mineral Fuels, Oils, Waxes, and its Distillated Derivatives | $327M | 4.8% |
| 4 | Edible fruits, nuts & fruit peels | $307M | 4.5% |
| 5 | Fish, Crustaceans & Molluscs | $254M | 3.7% |
Total exports: $6.8B (BACI, 2023 trade flows). The treemap you played is drawn from exactly these numbers.
Together the top five categories cover 69% of Panama's export basket — the rest of the chart splinters into the small mosaic blocks along the edge. In Tradle terms: the skill was recognizing the big blocks, not memorizing the fringe.
02How to Solve It
Lead with the giant block. Ores, Slag and Ash narrows the world to a short list of exporters; one anchor guess in North America plus the distance clue should close it within three tries.
If you used the hint ladder above, the ideal exit was Hint 3 — the top export practically names the country. Every 1% of proximity equals roughly 200 km, so read your percentage as a radius, not a verdict.
The general method — anchor guess, arrow, proximity math — is covered in our how to play Tradle guide, and the signature-exports cheat sheet lives in the strategy section.
03Panama in Tradle History
This was the 1st time Panama appeared as a Tradle answer — it has come up 10 times in total:
- Dec 28, 2022 (this puzzle)
- May 2, 2023
- Jul 8, 2023
- Nov 16, 2023
- Aug 31, 2024
- Nov 16, 2024
- Aug 31, 2025
- Nov 16, 2025
- Jan 23, 2026
- Feb 25, 2026
Repeats are part of the game — learn this fingerprint now and the next appearance is a free win. Browse the full Tradle answers archive for more patterns.
04Frequently Asked Questions
What was the Tradle answer on December 28, 2022?
Panama — puzzle #198, recognizable by Ores, Slag and Ash at 44% of its export treemap.
What number is this puzzle?
#198, counted from the first Tradle on June 14, 2022. One puzzle is released per UTC day, worldwide.
Can I still play this puzzle?
The official daily has moved on, but you can practice this country and 225 others anytime in Tradle Unlimited — free, no signup.
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