Guatemala continued to be the main importer in the region during the first quarter of 2021 with $15.7 million, in Central America there was an increase in purchases of 4.26%.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graphic"]
Panama's Ministry of Housing requires different supplies to improve abandoned properties in deplorable conditions in the provinces of Chorrillo, Santa Ana and Calidonia.
Panama Government Purchase 2021-0-14-0-08-08-LP-018752:
"The bidding will be on a lump sum basis to obtain the 127 various supplies needed to make improvements to abandoned properties in poor condition in Chorrillo, Santa Ana and Calidonia. Some of the supplies are as follows:
In 2019 and 2020, Brazilian companies were the main suppliers of water heaters in the Central American market, since in both years they cornered more than 30% of total regional imports.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graph"]
During last year, imports of electric generators increased year-on-year in Nicaragua and Guatemala, and decreased in Costa Rica, Panama, Honduras and El Salvador.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graphic"].
Last year, Guatemala was the only market in the region where washing machine imports increased, the remaining five countries decreased their foreign purchases, with El Salvador reporting the worst drop.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graphic"].
During 2020, imports of electrical wires and cables in Nicaragua and Guatemala increased in year-on-year terms, and in the cases of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras and Panama they decreased considerably.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graphic"].
In recent years Chinese water heaters have gained importance in terms of the amount purchased, since from January to September 2012 they represented 12% of total Central American imports and for the same period of 2020 the proportion rose to 18%.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graphic"].
In Costa Rica, of the total number of exporters whose majority of shipments are in the metal-mechanics, electrical and electronics or plastics sectors, 25% meet a profile of potential participation in global value chains.
An analysis prepared by the Foreign Trade Promotion Agency of Costa Rica (Procomer) explains that "... the 3 sectors agree in selling their products to at least 6 main GVCs: construction (25% of companies), agriculture (23%) trade (20%), food (11%), electronic components and telecommunications (10%) and medical industry (9%)."
Empresa Nacional de Energía Electrica de Honduras is bidding for the supply, installation and commissioning of meters to be used in the Metering System of the National Transmission Network.
Honduras Government Purchase AIHMER-13-LPI-B:
"The contract price will include all materials and labor required for the complete execution of the works and the correct and complete execution of the works, as well as equipment, auxiliary and protection elements, tools, auxiliary labor, and generally everything related to a complete and perfect finish of each of the energy meters to be installed in the National Transmission Grid indicated in these bidding documents, as well as any indirect costs of the works, general expenses, wages, salaries, fees, hauling of materials and any other payment required in the work.
In recent years’ Brazilian water heaters have gained importance in terms of the amount purchased, as in the first half of 2014 they represented 14% of total Central American imports and for the same period of 2020 the proportion rose to 31%.
Figures from CentralAmericaData's Trade Intelligence Area: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graphic"].
In recent years refrigerators and freezers from China have gained importance in terms of the amount purchased, as in the first half of 2012 represented 7% of total regional imports and for the same period of 2020 the proportion rose to 28%.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Area of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graphic"].
From January to July 2020, Central American companies imported $149 million in wire and cable from Mexico, 24% less than in the same period in 2019, a drop that is explained by the decrease in purchases in all markets in the region.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphic"]
From January to March 2020, Central American companies imported $22 million in electrical cables and wires, and purchases from China increased by 13% compared to the same period in 2019.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphic"]
The Empresa Nacional de Energia Electrica de Honduras (Honduran National Electric Power Company) is putting out to tender at the international level a high-level individual consultancy service for the preparation of specialized terms of reference and budgets to strengthen the country's electricity transmission capacity.
During the first three months of last year the main buyers of air conditioning equipment in Central America were Panama and Honduras, with $22 million each, followed by Costa Rica, with $21 million, Guatemala, with $11 million, El Salvador, with $10 million and Nicaragua, with $5 million.
Data from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graph"]