The favorable exchange rate and greater range of financing options are responsible for the rise in overseas purchases.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Vehicles, cell phones and televisions are some of the most frequently purchased consumer goods bought abroad by Costa Ricans.
Between April 2010 and March this year, imports of consumer goods totaled 2.932 million, the highest amount in the last nine years.
Appreciation of the colon against the dollar is making imports cheaper, which coupled with the increase in financing facilities on offer by companies and banks, explains the trend in growth of imported goods.
An article in Nación.com notes: "The increase in the value of imports of consumer goods, and in raw materials and intermediate products are the two biggest factors affecting the uptrend which is seen, in general, not only in imported goods to the country, but also in increased foreign purchases of capital goods, fuels and lubricants. "
The total value of Chinese products entering the country could be triple that amount, due to triangulation in global trade.
Guatemala imported goods from the People's Republic of China (PRC) worth $1.14 billion in 2011, reported the Bank of Guatemala (Banguat).
In January this year, purchases amounted to $103.2 million, demonstrating an upward trend, as this figure is 44.9% more than in the corresponding period in 2011 ($71.2 million).
Imports of luxury watches grew by 84% in the first two months of 2012 compared to the same period last year.
Reports from the Tax Authority (SAT) show that so far this year, the CIF value of wrist and pocket watches, and similar products coming into the country reached the sum of $866,000, a higher figurer than the $469,000 in the first two months of 2011.
In the first three months of the year 20.1% more goods and services were imported compared to the same period in 2010.
The economic boom that Panama is experiencing is also reflected in the purchases of goods and services abroad, which have grown at a faster pace than the economy is growing.