In Costa Rica a considerable increase has been reported in the illegal transfer of agricultural products such as avocados, which have been banned from Mexico for almost three years.
In Costa Rica, a new bill has been presented to grant resources at a preferential rate to producers, aimed particularly at the smaller ones.
According to the bill, which received a positive ruling in committee and now must go to the Plenary, the fund will be financed by a contribution of 5% from the liquid surplus of the Coffee Institute of Costa Rica (Icafé), resources from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock and funds recovered from the Trust Fund for Coffee Producers Affected by Rust and the Coffee Plantation Renewal Plan.
In the first nine months of 2017, Costa Rica exported $784 million worth of fresh and dried bananas, 7% more than in the same period in 2016.
Figures from the Information System on the fresh or dried banana market in Central America compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [Figure caption = "Click to interact with the graphic"]
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"]
Despite the fact that the Costa Rican pineapple sector has faced complaints of alleged environmental damage, sales abroad have continued to grow, and it remains the number two export product.
Between 2016 and 2017 Costa Rican exports of fruit increased from $905 million to $970 million, which represents an increase of 7%.This rise has occurred in the context of environmental and social complaints, due to the use of agrochemicals and their respective implications.
The main distributors have stated that the supply of cereals in supermarkets has been increasing in recent years.
Nacion.com reports that "...Each Costa Rican eats 1.2 kilograms of cereal a year, thus exceeding the consumption of this product by Mexicans, Colombians, Russians and even Japanese citizens."
In Costa Rica, climatic conditions have favored the development of rust in areas of early maturation, where 40% of the almost 30 thousand hectares planted are affected.
For the moment, the presence of this outbreak by epitifia is located in the coffee regions known as early maturing zones, that is to say, Pérez Zeledón, Turrialba and Coto Brus.Already, great efforts are being made to prevent this fungus from spreading to other coffee growing areas of the country.
In the first nine months of 2017, countries in the region exported $1.166 billion worth of sugar, 41% more than was sold during the same period in 2016.
Figures from the information system on the Raw Sugar Market in Central America, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with graph"]
After a slight increase in the first month of 2018, in February international prices fell by 1%, due to the negative behavior of three groups of the Arabica variety.
From the monthly report by the International Coffee Organization:
After a slight rise in January following a three-month decline, the monthly average of the ICO composite indicator fell by 1.2% in February 2018 to 114.19 US cents/lb. The daily composite indicator was generally higher in the first half of the month, peaking at 116.07 US cents/lb on 14 February. The composite indicator reached a low of 112.16 US cents/lb on 21 February, but remained above 113 cents/lb after this date.
In the first nine months of 2017, countries in the region exported $2.795 million worth of coffee, 29% more than was sold during the same period in 2016.
Figures from the information system on the the Coffee market in Central America, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with the graph"]
On May 17 and 18, agroindustrial companies in the region will be meeting in San Pedro Sula, where products will be exhibited and business appointments held.
In the IV edition of the Agromercados 2018 fair, which will take place at the San Pedro Sula Expo Center, the participation of at least 800 companies is expected.
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"]
Factors such as geographical proximity and the sophistication of consumption are characteristics that position it as a market of interest for coffee farmers in the region.
From the executive summary of a study by Procomer of Costa Rica entitled "Roasted coffee market in the US":
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