In 2020, Nicaragua was positioned as the largest exporter of Central America with $440.1 million, in addition, the main buyer of coffee was the United States with 35.53% equivalent to $832.7 million, followed by Germany with $330.1 million.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graphic"]
From 5 to 10 October, Guatemalan businessmen from the agricultural sector will travel to Madrid to make several business appointments with potential Spanish buyers, and also know the trends in the supermarket sector.
Spain is a market with an interest in export products such as mango, avocado, roasted and green coffee, fresh vegetables and exotic fruits, some of the products most demanded by Spanish buyers, reported Agexport.
The decline in exports of the agricultural sector reported in the first quarter, coupled with the lack of rainfall, has caused that the beginning of the year has not been the best for businessmen in Costa Rica.
Figures from the Costa Rica Foreign Trade Promoter report that between the first quarter of 2018 and the same period in 2019, exports from the agricultural sector were down by $107 million.
The import of 130,000 hundredweight and an estimated production of 80,000 between November and December will guarantee supply of the product and the balance of consumption, according to the Central Bank of Nicaragua.
From a statement issued by the Central Bank of Nicaragua:
National System of Production, Consumption and Commerce and Vegetable Sector guarantees supply of perishables
In the last five years, the average price of coffee exported by countries in the region fell by 33%, going from $226 to $151.
Figures from the information system on thethe Coffee market in Central America, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit atCentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with the graph"]
Between 2015 and 2016, the total value of imported insecticides, herbicides and fungicides in Central American countries increased by 6%, going from $632 million to $668 million.
Figures from the information system on thethe Market for Insecticides, Herbicides and Fungicides in Central America, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit atCentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Clic para interactuar con la gráfica"]
Almost $100 million is the export value of the over 500 species and three thousand varieties of ornamental plants, cut flowers and foliage shipped in 2015.
Of the total production of flowers, ornamental plants and foliage,80% goes to the international market, while the remaining 20% is sold locally.In 2015 salesabroad totaled $95.3 million, and between January and August this year the figure has already exceeded $70 million.
The decline in the local harvest caused by drought has forced the country to double the volume of imports of the grain in the current year, 2016.
An article on Laprensa.hn reports that "...Jacobo Paz, minister of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (SAG), said that the import of 170,000 tons of yellow corn (3.4 million quintals), which will be used for agribusiness has already been authorized. "
The government has authorized the purchase of 20,000 pounds of yellow onions to reduce the price in the local market while the product remains scarce.
The authorization came from Orlando Solorzano, Minister of Development, Industry and Commerce, who said traders and producers of yellow onion agree with the policy, because the perishable product has risen in price in the country's markets.
Agricultural authorities have announced that the definition and implementation of phytosanitary protocols allow industrial potatoes to come in from the US once again.
From a statement issued by the Ministry of Agriculture:
2019/2020 - 60 - 54 - 114 The State Phytosanitary Service (SFE), at the Ministry of Agriculture (MAG), announced that the importation of potatoes for industrial use, originating in the United States, could reopen in the next few months due to implementation of phytosanitary protocols to minimize risk of introducing the plague "Zebra chip", which Costa Rica is free of.
Foreign sales have already surpassed the $400 million mark with estimated total export volume reaching 2.5 million hundredweight.
The president of the Superior Council of Private Enterprise (COSEP), Joseph Adam Aguerri said 2015 has been a good year for Nicaraguan coffee, overcoming the negative effects of drought and rust.
"... In the period from the first of October 2014 to 30 September this year, the Center for Export Procedures (CETREX) posted revenues of US $414.3 million, generated by exports of 2,303,688 bags of coffee, of which 1,535,792 bags weighed 69 kilograms and 1,766,161 weighed 60 kilograms. Last year revenues from gold grain exports totaled US $394.5 million. "
Palm oil producers in the province of Chiriqui are demanding a revision of tariffs on imports of soybean oil.
Producers argue that soybean oil imported from Argentina is threatening local production of palm oil. Reportedly approximately 342,000 tons of palm oil are produced a year.
Victor Watts, president of the oil palm producers in Chiriqui, told Laestrella.com.pa that another threat is that "...
As part of the Agritrade Platform, Guatemala will participate for the 27th time in PMA Fresh Summit, the most important international trade show and convention of fruits and vegetables in the United States, which will take place at Anaheim Convention Center, California from October 17th to 19th.
Tropical fruits, fresh vegetables, baby vegetables, among others, will be the Guatemalan supply presented in Fresh Summit in Anaheim California
On July 29th training will be provided in Guatemala on the requirements and conditions to export flowers, foliage and ornamental plants to Mexico.
From a statement issued by the Guatemalan Exporters Association (Agexport):
The Committee on Ornamental Plants, Foliage and flowers at AGEXPORT, in order to open new markets for member companies, has reached an agreement with the Agricultural Department of the Embassy of Mexico to provide tools which aim to provide entry for Guatemalan ornamental products into the neighboring country because of the barriers that have existed in previous years.
Authorization has been given for the purchase of 550,000 tons of sugar cane and 100,000 tons of sugar beet for the current season.
The new allocation established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), represents an increase of about 50% on the existing quota of 1.32 million tonnes.
"Among the reasons for the increase of the quota, is the reduction of local production and the abrupt change in market conditions since sugar mills in the United States initiated a trade dispute with Mexico two months ago. Since filing the complaint against the Mexican plants in late March, local prices have gone up by 16%... ".