Importers and exporters bear the costs for delays and extra stays of containers, which costs around $60 a day per unit, resulting in an increase in the final value of the products.

Maria Rivera of the Honduran Association of Animal Feed Manufacturers (Ahproaba) told Laprensa.hn that "... we are publicly asking the Minister of Health for more staff and training. Having one person in ports inspecting about 60 to 70 containers per day, is definitely causing chaos. "

She added "... we have a serious problem of overcrowding and lack of agility in the processes of unloading, inspecting and then releasing containers from the port, which in the case of frozen foods results in costs of $60 a day per container."

Source: laprensahn.com

More on this topic

Customs Problems Arise in Puerto Cortes Again

November 2016

Honduran businessmen have denounced the economic losses caused by delays in reviewing containers and are demanding more agility in customs procedures at the port.

The commercial sector is one of the most affected by the slowness of the customs procedures which must be carried out at Puerto Cortes. Jorge Faraj, president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industries of Cortés, told Laprensa.hn that   "... If the problem is not resolved and if they do not get the merchandise out in time in the coming days of November, businesses will miss out on Christmas sales and that will be a big blow to the economy'."

Costly Delays in Puerto Cortes

May 2016

Clearing a container through customs can take up to 14 days and the extra costs for surcharges which apply after a third day can exceed $600.

An article on Laprensa.hn reports that "...Of those 14 days, only about 11 will be spent waiting, first for the cargo to be inspected and after for a diagnosis to be made, or because of the delay added due to days when customs officers from the now liquidated Executive Directorate of Revenue ( DEI) have taken off in order to migrate to the Revenue Management System (SAR). "

El Salvador: New Inspection Generates Delays in Puerto de Acajutla

January 2014

A new non-intrusive inspection process at the port is causing delays and making container movement more costly.

The Corporation of Exporters of El Salvador (COEXPORT) reported delays at the Port of Acajutla due to a new non-intrusive inspection, which has caused problems and delays in the movement of containers.

Central American Customs Offices: Obstacle to Development

January 2014

The competitiveness of the economies of the isthmus is being impaired by the inefficiency of the bureaucracy in the management of customs offices in the region.

The bureaucracy at customs offices has become a serious problem for the Central American region. Among other things it generates increases in the costs of exporting because of the procedures that must be paid for, loss of perishable goods and delays in production in processes that have to wait for raw materials.