In Guatemala, two importing companies claim not to be able to bring in this type of fruit imported from Mexico, because the Ministry of Agriculture requires them to present a phytosanitary certificate that their suppliers do not issue.
Because the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food (MAGA) of Guatemala, requires a phytosanitary export certificate which must indicate that avocados coming into the country are free of the Sunblotch virus, since May 11 importing companies have not been able to bring in the product.
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"]
Between February 2013 and December 2017, the average price of a kilo of corn imported into Guatemala has been on a downward path, falling from $0.43 to $0.19.
Figures from the information system on the the Corn Market in Central America, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with graph"]
From January to September 2017, El Salvador bought $21 million worth of processed meat from abroad, 7% more than what was purchased during the same period in 2016.
Figures from the information system of the Processed Meat 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 $55 million worth of sugar and confectionery items from Mexico, 11% more than what was purchased in 2016.
Figures from the Information system on the Sugar and Confectionery Market in Central America, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with graph"]
In 2017, Central America countries imported 20,000 tons of food preparation ingredients from Mexico, 4% more than was purchased in 2016.
Figures from the information system on the Market for Food Preparation Ingredients in Central America, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData : [GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with graph"]
From January to September 2017, countries in the region imported $79 million worth of sausages, 6% more than was purchased in the same period in 2016.
Figures from the information system on the Sausage Market in Central America, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with graph"]
From January to November 2017, Central American countries imported 19,000 tons of food supplies from Mexico, 10% more than the amount purchased in the same period in 2016.
Figures from the information system on the the Food Preparation Ingredients Market in Central America, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with graph"]
Truck robberies, high energy prices, excessive bureaucracy and the informal sector all took their toll on the growth of the Costa Rican food and beverage industry in 2017.
The Monthly Index of Manufacturing Activity of the food and beverages industry showed a slowdown in the domestic market and a negative average growth of -0.07% in the first nine months of the year.
Operating Company dedicated to the manufacture of gluten-free and sugar-free products, OHNE brand.
The OHNE brand has 8 product lines: square bread, sweet lemon cookies with chia, chocolate with blueberries and sweet cookies with sunflower seeds, sesame sticks, empanizer, banana cake, all made without gluten, without sugar, without soy and dairy-free, ingredients that are intolerant for this market segment.
In the first half of 2017, Central American countries imported $142 million worth of sauces and their preparations, and purchases from the United States grew by 12% compared to the same period in 2016.
Figures from the information system on the Central American Market for Sauces and Ingredients for their Preparation, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with the graph"]
In 2016 countries in the region bought $103 million worth of soups and their preparations, and 44% of the total came from the USA and Mexico.
Figures from the Information System on the Market for Soups and Preparations in CentralAmerica compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with the graphic"]
A law that is being discussed in the Congress of Costa Rica "would allow associations of activists to decide what individuals will produce, what shops will sell and what consumers are going to eat, with no technical or scientific basis."
From a statement issued by the Costa Rican Chamber of the Food Industry:
Deputies push intervention law that will affect food production
In Guatemala, companies say that the process to obtain a health permit to set up a food factory and register products can take several months.
Entrepreneurs in the sector say that the food industry is missing out on the possibility of attracting investments from foreign companies because of the cumbersome and slow processes that must be followed.Favorable factors for attracting investment in the food industry, such as the low price of sugar, do not make up for the high cost of bureaucracy faced when settling in the country.
In 2016 Central American countries imported $329 million worth of confectionary, chocolates and other preparations based on cacao, 7% more than in 2015.
Figures from the information system on theConfectionery and Chocolates Market in Central America, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit atCentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with the graph"]