During 2020, Central American rice imports amounted to $388 million, and purchases from Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay increased in year-on-year terms by 751%, 330% and 218%, respectively.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graphic"].
For the Central American Rice Federation, the bankruptcy of more than 62 thousand rice farmers in Central America and the Dominican Republic is imminent, due to the abolition of import tariffs, a measure that is part of the implementation of the DR-CAFTA Free Trade Agreement.
Representatives of the sector consider that if the commercial liberalization of rice cultivation continues, there will be an increase in unemployment and poverty in their agricultural areas, since more than 265,000 people depend directly on this crop and approximately 990,000 people indirectly, and foresee serious social, economic and political implications due to the effects of the Treaty.
From January to September 2020 Central America allocated $298 million to rice imports, and purchases from Brazil increased 808% compared to what was reported in the same period of 2019.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graph"]
After the Costa Rican government authorized the importation of 50 thousand metric tons of paddy rice, the National Rice Corporation is requesting that this volume be increased by an additional 20 thousand tons.
The National Rice Corporation (CONARROZ) requests the government to increase the Shortage Decree No. 42765-MAG-MEIC-COMEX, through which the import of 50,061 thousand metric tons of paddy rice was authorized, by 20 thousand tons more, to ensure local consumption at a fair price, says a statement issued by the guild on March 15, 2021.
Between January and March 2020, Central America allocated $51 million to rice imports, 9% less than in the same period in 2019, with Costa Rica and Nicaragua being the markets that registered the most significant reductions.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graph"]
Between January and September 2019, Central America allocated $198 million to rice imports, 22% less than in the same period in 2018, with Panama and El Salvador being the markets that recorded the most significant reductions.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphics"]
Between June 2018 and the same month in 2019, the average price of Central American rice imports has reported a downward trend, from $0.43 to $0.34 per kilo.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graphic"]
In the first six months of the year, rice imports in Central America reached $163 million, an increase of 56% over the same period in 2017.
Figures from the information system of the Rice Market in Central America, from the Trade Intelligence Area of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphic"]
In Costa Rica, the government has decided to establish an additional tariff of 11.67% on imports of brown rice, for purchases exceeding 6,367 tons.
With this new protectionist measure taken by the government, which will apply from September 21 to December 31 of this year, the current tariff will increase from 35% to 46.67%.
After the government argued that "...the increase in imports of brown rice, is generating an increase in national inventories of rice, resulting in repeated and growing surpluses in the domestic market," it proceeded to implement the protectionist measure called Special Agricultural Safeguard (SGE).
Explained by an increase in purchases made from companies in Brazil, during the first quarter of the year Panama imported $19 million worth of rice, 207% more than in the same period in 2017.
Figures from the Information System on the Rice Market in Central America, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with graph"]
In 2017, countries in the region imported $265 million worth of rice, of which 45% was purchased by companies in Costa Rica and Honduras.
Figures from the Information System on the Rice Market in Central America, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with graph"]
The Government has authorized the import of up to 100 thousand tons of paddy rice, and the deadline to complete the import process will be June 30, 2018.
The Panamanian government published a decree in the Official Gazette through which it authorizes the importation of rice, and the total distribution of the quota will be made in two groups:
Between January 2015 and December 2016, the average price per kilo of rice imported by Central American countries fell from $0.46 to $0.35.
Figures from the information system on the the Rice Market in Central America, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Clic para interactuar con la gráfica"]
The union of rice growers foresees the need to import certified rice seeds for the sowing period beginning in May 2017.
Excessive rains which affected rice production, mainly in the province of Chiriqui, will force producers to import certified seeds before the start of the agricultural season in May.
The president of the Association of Rice Producers in the province of Chiriqui (Apach), Gabriel Arauz, told Panamaamerica.com.pa that"... 'The rains affected rice planting for certified seeds in the province of Chiriqui, by 60%, which clearly indicates that there will be a shortage of this grain for planting next year, therefore imports will have to be made to meet producers' needs."
In the next few days the government plans to publish a decree declaring a shortage and authorizing the import of duty-free grain.
Due to a decline in local production, there will not be enough stocks to meet demand from January 2017, therefore the import of about 70,000 tons, free from the 33.10%tariff, has been authorized.
The chairman of the Board of the National Rice Corporation (Conarroz), Eliécer Araya, told Nacion.com that "... The need to import is now stronger because of a smaller domestic crop. About three years ago the proportion of consumption of national productionwas 60% and this has now gone down to 50%. "
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