The strong growth reported in past years in foreign sales of frozen fruit from Costa Rica has declined, a situation that businessmen believe is because of market saturation.
According to data from the Foreign Trade Promoter (Procomer), between 2016 and 2017 foreign sales of frozen fruit grew 21%, from $65 million to $79 million, but for the period between 2017 and 2018 the increase was just 1%, going from $79 million to $80 million.
In the first quarter of 2018, imports grew slightly compared to the same period in 2017, driven by growth of third countries, with 11% of the total.
From a report by Procomer:
In the first quarter of 2018, Spanish imports of fruits and vegetables grew slightly in relation to the same period in 2017, totalling 823,145 ton, driven by growth of other countries, with 11% of the total.Meanwhile, purchases from the European Union (EU) went down by 5%, standing at 464,738 tons, according to data from the General Directorate of Customs.
The market for fresh fruits and vegetables in this European country amounts to $25 billion, mostly in fruits, while processed vegetables amount to just over $4 billion.
From a report by Procomer Costa Rica entitled "Opportunities for marketing fresh and processed fruits and vegetables in Italy":
The fresh fruit and vegetable market in Italy is USD 25,071 mn, mostly fruit (68%), and the processed market is USD 4,272 mn in 2017.Both have opportunities to supply the food industry and, specifically the fresh ones, to enter the retail trade in the Italian off-season and with exotic products.
Agricultural producers and food companies are being called on to participate in a business conference with Canadian companies, to be held on September 1 in Nicaragua.
The deadline to confirm participation in the business mission to Managua to meet with Canadian companies is July 10, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Cortes (CCIC) informed Laprensa.hn.
Fresh fruits, processed fruits, concentrates and fruit juices, coffee and cocoa are the main products with potential for export to China.
From a statement issued by Procomer of Costa Rica:
San José, November 18, 2016. Fresh fruits, processed fruits, concentrates and fruit juices, as well as coffee and cocoa are the main Costa Rican products that have potential for export to the Republic of Korea; a developed country with sophisticated and demanding consumers, in terms of innovation and quality.
In the last year, Peruvian fresh mango exports to North America, Asia and Europe grew by 21%.
From a statement issued by PROCOMER:
Camposol, the Peruvian group known for its extensive activities in the cultivation and export of fresh fruit and vegetables, is expanding its business of frozen products, offering a more complete range to its global clientele. This has made it the number 1 manufacturer in Peru of mangoes, avocados andfrozen blueberries.
In September, exports sent by the chemical industry recorded a growth of 28%, followed by fresh and frozen fruit, which grew by 14%.
From a statement issued by the Guatemalan Exporters Association:
Total exports from January to September 2015 reached US $8.297 billion, which means 1.7% (US $136 million) more than was exported in the same period in 2014.
The growing preference for natural products explains part of the growth in sales of frozen fruit and vegetables in the United States, which exceeded $1 billion in 2014.
From a statement issued by the Costa Rican Foreign Trade Promotion Office (Procomer):
In 2006, few people were interested in the sale of frozen fruit, hidden within its own sector and packaging that was not very appealing.
Statistics on the consumption of soft drinks, especially fruit juices, reveal significant growth in 2011 and 2012.
From an article by the Costa Rican Trade Promotion Office (PROCOMER):
Statistics on the consumption of soft drinks in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), especially of fruit juices, reveal significant growth in 2011 and 2012. These trends are becoming stronger and reflect a multicultural society, aware of the importance of consuming healthy drinks, which has fueled the growth of this market segment.
New technology allows fruit and vegetables to be frozen when they at their peak ripeness, preserving for up to three years texture, appearance, odor, flavor, and nutritional properties.
A statement from the Costa Rica Foreign Trade Promotion Office (PROCOMER) reads:
New technology developed for freezing fresh produce
New technology has recently been launched in Spain that can freeze fruits and vegetables which have been picked at their peak ripeness, preserving the same texture, the same sensory characteristics (appearance, odor, flavor, etc.) and the same nutritional properties as their varieties fresh for up to three years. This means that seasonal foods such as melon, peach, pineapple or tomatoes can be eaten all year round.
The global market for frozen fruits and vegetables continues to grow and is estimated to reach 22.6 million tons by 2015.
Analysis conducted by the Trade Office of Costa Rica (PROCOMER) can be extrapolated to the entire region:
Global Industry Analysts Inc., an international company that conducts market research, recently published a report entitled "Frozen Fruits and Vegetables: A Global Strategic Business Report", which indicates that the global market of frozen fruits and vegetables continues to grow and expected to reach 22.6 million tons by 2015.