Revenues from sugar exports during the first six months of 2012 totaled $145 million, almost 30% more than in the same period last year.
In terms of volume, export growth was 36.5%. In the first half of 2011 201,000 tons were exported, while in the same half of 2012 the export volume was 275,000 tons.
In an article in Elnuevodiario.com.ni Mario Amador, Executive Director of the National Committee of Sugar Producers, CNPA, said industry expectations are optimistic: "We believe this year we will export nearly eight million quintals of sugar, equivalent to $180 million, only in sugar. If we add to that molasses, honey, alcohol, it will be about $220 million. "
Driven by exports from free zones and stable prices, the country's growth has exceeded all expectations.
The main exports were from the electronics industry, represented mainly by Intel. Foreign sales from this sector increased by 43% in the first 6 months of 2012 compared with the same period last year, and contributed more than 25% to the total export growth.
In the first nine months of the current coffee harvest, the country has exported 5.8 million quintals, up 23.4% when compared to the same period in last harvest.
In value terms the increase was 6.37%, or $1,218 million compared to the $1,145 from the last harvest.
The manager of the Honduran Coffee Institute (IHCAFE), Victor Hugo Molina, said the increase is due to "better farm management practices and better land cultivation".
Total exports, excluding from the free zone, in the first six months of the year amounted to $1.437 billion, 13.08% higher than in the same period in 2011.
According to information from the Center for Exports (Cetrex), the total volume exported in the same period also reported an increase which was of 10.97%.
Gisella Canales writes for Laprensa.com.ni, "In the first half of the year the country’s exports remained without major changes and were focused on three products.
The U.S. is the main destination for Costa Rican exports, accounting for 38.8% of cumulative exports between January and May, followed by the Netherlands (8.5%) and China (7.7%).
A statement from the Ministry of Foreign Trade reads:
Exports of goods grew 12% in the first five months of the year
- The most noteworthy destinations are ones with which the country has trade agreements in force or in process.
In the first three months Guatemalan food exports and nonalcoholic beverages totaled $240.4 million, $54.5 million more than in the same period of 2011.
The food sector, which in the past ten years has maintained sustained growth in exports, went from exporting $50 million to $800 million in 2011.
In the past five years the industry’s average growth was 18%
Tilapia exports to Europe and the U.S. increased by five percent in the first half of the year.
The increase is of about nine million pounds, representing $30 million in foreign exchange.
Orlando Delgado, manager of the company Aqua Finca Saint Peter Fish also noted that there has been an increase in exports to Mexico.
With respect to Honduras’ main competitor in the export of tilapia, Ecuador, the executive added to Latribuna.hn that "with our flagship product, tilapia filet, we are serving Mexico in an important way."
Coffee growers are counting on the production of more than 100 million quintals of top quality grain this harvest.
"Specialty coffee harvests are getting bigger and bigger. In this period we will have a good number of bags to serve such markets. We believe that exports will rise more than 100 million quintals", said Asterio Reyes, president of Ihcafé (the Honduran Coffee Institute) to Laprensa.hn.
Costa Rica’s milk sales were of $93 million in 2011, while Guatemala’s production has dropped so much that it had to import 66% of its demand.
Guatemala produces 1.8 million liters of milk, according to the Chamber of Milk Producers of Guatemala, which barely covers 34% of its domestic demand."In the past 40 years, it has gone from being the country with the highest milk production in the region, to the largest importer of dairy products", said Nery Orrego, CEO of the Chamber of Milk Producers, reported Prensalibre.com.
This economic activity generated $95 million in 2012 and has shown sustained growth in recent years.
In 2011, sales of Nicaraguan cigars -102 million units, totaled $95 million. The U.S. is the main market, where 95% of production goes.
In Nicaragua there are 25 cigar factories that create 15,000 direct jobs and 22,000 indirect jobs, mostly in the northern region, mainly in Esteli, said the secretary of the Nicaraguan Cigar Association, Leonel Raúdez to Laprensa.com.ni.
Panamanian farmers plan to export 15,000 veal calves per year to Mexico and are preparing to send thousands of heads to Costa Rica.
Panamanian farmers will send about 15,000 calves for fattening to Mexico a year, and aim to confirm the export of between 7,000 and 8,000 head of cattle to Costa Rica, where they have already sent 360 cattle.
Business in Mexico was closed with two primers of cattle whose annual demand is 300,000 heads.
Panama's exports grew by about 33%, those of Nicaragua by 30% , Guatemala’s by 27%, Honduras’ by 26%, El Salvador’s by 18% and Costa Rica’s by 10%.
The Central American countries together exported goods worth $52 billion in 2011, 22.3% more than in 2010, reported the Secretariat of Central American Economic Integration (Sieca) this week.
The best sellers were coffee (14%), hybrid integrated circuits (6%) and bananas (6%), reported the AFP and Nacion.com.
In 2011 sales of Salvadoran services abroad totaled $1.1 billion, 10% more than in 2010.
A statement from the Agency for Promotion of Exports and Investments in El Salvador (PROESA) reads:
The Agency for Promotion of Exports and Investments in El Salvador, PROESA, today (Wednesday 24th) held the 1st International Forum on Export of Services in order to raise awareness of global trends, the outlook for the region and the country as well of some of the success stories of exporters of services. The Forum's main purpose was to stimulate more interest by Salvadoran firms to venture into this activity with high growth potential.
With foreign sales in 2011 of $31 million, the sector recorded a growth of 191% compared to 2006 and 93% compared to 2010.
FOB Exports of leather and footwear in 2011 amounted to $31.1 million, an increase of 190.7% ($15 million) compared to 2006 and 93.2% ($20.4 million) compared to 2010. Exports of leather and footwear were 1% of total exports for Nicaragua in 2006 and rose to 1.4% in 2011, reported the official website of El Pueblo Presidente.
Guatemala went from exporting 50,000 screen printed garments to 12 million within 12 years.
Within a month, the textile and clothing sector exports abroad 32 million items, of which 37.5% have graphic prints, said Robert Matheu, president of the Silkscreen Commission from the Clothing and Textiles sector.
Matheu attributes this growth to training and access to technology, according to Prensalibre.com.