As of May 2017, fishing and carton production recorded sales of nearly double in relation to what was observed in 2016, and they are still growing at rates of 10% and 40% respectively.
The Foreign Trade report by the Central Bank of Nicaragua states that"fishing and cardboard production recorded sales of almost double in relation to what was observed in 2016 and continue to grow at rates of 10.4 percent and 40.2 percent, respectively."
Mangosteen, pitahaya, guanabana, passion fruit, uchuva, ipecacuana, pejibaye and carambola are some of the agricultural products with potential to export to markets such as Europe and America.
From a report by Procomer of Costa Rica entitled "Opportunities for commercialization of incipient agricultural products":
PROCOMER has carried out an analysis of agricultural products that have possibilities for production and expansion at the national and international level, but whose exports are few or none at all.Through the support of PROCOMER's Trade Promotion Offices, state agencies and research centers, 8 products with the highest potential for international marketing were selected: Mangosteen, pitahaya, guanabana, passion fruit, uchuva, ipecac, pejibaye and carambola.
In the first quarter of this year, exports of pineapple, manufactured leather and timber goods recorded increases of over 200% compared to the same period in 2016.
Pineapples, fresh oranges, leather goods, timber, cocoa, scrap metal, confectionery and pharmaceutical products are some of the export items which recorded significant increases compared to the first quarter of 2016.
New consumption habits in developed markets are creating new opportunities for fruits such as mangosteen, dragon fruit, soursop, passion fruit, gooseberry, ipecac, pejibaye and starfruit.
From a report by PROCOMER, Costa Rica entitled "Emerging opportunities in sales of agricultural products"
Companies participating in the SIAL show in Paris made purchase offer deals worth more than $1 million and generated new markets in Europe and South America for products such as chia, crackers and organic cocoa.
The event was attended by a delegation of 12 member from companies in the Association of Producers and Exporters of Nicaragua (APEN), and succeeded in opening new markets for non-traditional products and increase their knowledge of the European market for future business deals.
Although there is a market in the EU for Nicaraguan non-traditional products, producers face tough requirements and controls in order to conquer it.
In 2013 the trade component of the Association Agreement with the European Union will come into effect, which will liberalize most of the Central American export goods.
According to the Center for Nicaraguan Exports (CETREX) this represents an opportunity, particularly for products such as cocoa, sesame, fresh fruit, natural honey, okra, pineapple and herbs and spices, goods whose production has not yet been consolidated in the country.