The country's chicken producers estimate that they will close 2020 with a 1.3% decrease in sales, a drop that would be explained by the drop in orders from hotels and restaurants, establishments that operate partially due to the low presence of tourists.
The spread of covid-19 caused considerable damage to the tourism and restaurant sector, since the country's air connection was interrupted and up to now few tourists remain there.
Authorities from both countries signed a protocol that will allow Panamanian producers to export poultry meat to the Asian nation.
The agreement that was signed on November 17, 2020 by Panama's ambassador to China, Leonardo Kam, representing the Ministries of Health and Agricultural Development, and by the Director General of the General Administration of Customs of China, Ni Yuefeng, includes an annex with the list of ten eligible chicken edible by-products that would integrate the agreement.
The diffusion of campaigns that promote the consumption of chicken meat and its low price are factors that have influenced the growth in per capita consumption of the product in the Guatemalan market by 60% between 2018 and 2019.
Data from the National Association of Poultry Farmers (Anavi) indicates that between 2018 and 2019, the average annual consumption of chicken meat for each Guatemalan increased by 25 pounds, from 41.45 pounds to 66.5 pounds.
In the local market, the demand for fried and roasted chicken is estimated at 640,000 parts per day and each consumer spends an average of $3.33 on each purchase.
Figures from the National Association of Poultry Farmers of Honduras (Anavih) detail that weekly consumption of cooked chicken amounts to about 4.4 million pieces and approximately 25% of total Honduran consumers buy this type of food.
When the country's authorities begin to lift the restrictions that have been taken to prevent the spread of covid-19, it is predicted that in the meat sector, sales of chicken could contract by 2%.
Through a demand/income sensitivity model developed by the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData, variations in household demand for different goods and services can be projected as the most critical phases of the spread of covid-19 are overcome and the measures restricting mobility in the countries of the region are lifted.
When the economies of Central America begin to relax the restrictions that have been taken to prevent the spread of covid-19, it is expected that in the area of processed meats, sales of pork ham will be among the most contracted.
Using a demand/income sensitivity model developed by the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData, it is possible to project the variations that household demand for different goods and services will undergo as the most critical phases of the spread of covid-19 are overcome and the measures restricting mobility in the countries of the region are lifted.
Due to the fact that preference for "vegetable" or plant-based meat is growing quickly in major global markets, food industry business groups have begun to make investments to meet this novel and growing market niche.
Foods that were once considered the exclusive consumption of vegans or vegetarians are now becoming popular, and in the case of the United States, in supermarkets it is increasingly normal to see meat products made from plants.
Businessmen in the sector estimate that local chicken meat production has contracted between 6% and 8% since the crisis began in April last year.
Data from the Central Bank of Nicaragua detail that during 2018 the industrial production of chicken meat totaled 298 million pounds. In the case of production reported for this year, directors of the National Association of Poultry Producers and Food Producers (Anapa) explain that in the first five months of 2019 there was a 6% decrease in the volume produced, compared to the same period in 2018.
Between 2017 and 2018, the number of hens and chickens in the country reported an 8% increase, which is explained by the variations registered in the provinces of Cocle and Panama.
The General Comptroller of the Republic presented the results of livestock production in the country during 2018. Data show that between 2017 and 2018 the number of hens and chickens increased by 1.97 million, from 25.44 million to 27.41 million.
The union of poultry farmers of Honduras has denounced the fact that between 40,000 and 60,000 pounds of chicken are no longer entering the neighboring country due to obstacles "of a commercial nature".
According to the president of the Federation of Aviculturists of Honduras (Fedavih), Juan José Cruz, the situation is not occuring due to lack of sanitary permits, but rather to problems of a purely commercial nature.
From August 21st to 23rd,2018, poultry sector entrepreneurs from the region and the Dominican Republic will be meeting in San Pedro Sula to take part in business meetings and discuss relevant issues for the sector.
The event is being organized by the National Association of Aviculturists of Honduras (ANAVIH), and will be held at the Copantl Convention Center, starting at 8 am on Tuesday, August 21.
In 2017 the contribution of the poultry sector to the Panamanian economy amounted to $373 million, which represents an increase of 26% compared to the figure registered in 2016.
According to data from the National Association of Poultry Farmers of Panama (Anavip), in relation to 2016, last year egg production grew by 8% and chicken meat by 4%, and the activity was concentrated mainly in the provinces of Western Panama, Veraguas, Coclé, Colón, Los Santos and Chiriqui.
Cargill has inaugurated a processing plant in Nicaragua that will have the capacity to sacrifice up to 14,000 birds per hour, and it required a $45 million investment.
The new plant, where cuts of whole chicken will be automated, will provide greater capacity for freezing and in line packaging.
Currently the poultry industry has about 5.5 million birds for commercial supply and 14 million broilers, and this year they project growth of 4%.
Regarding the data on the sector, Marco Antonio Baquedano, coordinator of the National Poultry Program at the National Service for Agrifood Health and Safety (SENASA), told Latribuna.hn that "...
The poultry producers' association estimates that production of chicken meat has grown by almost 40% in the last nine years, while annual per capita consumption went from 68 pounds in 2007 to 92 pounds at present.
The figures are estimates from the National Association of Poultry Farmers (Anavip), whose data indicates that in 2008 around 250 million pounds were produced, 100 million pounds less than current annual production.