After decreases were reported in 2015 and 2016, last year the country raised $11 billion in sales abroad, 5% more than in 2016.
In 2017, sales abroad improved significantly compared to the previous year, rising from $10.449 billion in 2016 to $11 billion in 2017, which represents an increase of 5.3%.
The president of the Bank of Guatemala (Banguat), Sergio Recinos, explained to Elperiodico.com.gt that "... the recovery is associated with improvements in products such as clothing, cardamom, bananas, coffee, fats and oils, iron and oils, rubber, cereals, paper manufactures, petrol and aluminum, among other things."
Holland was the country that bought the most goods sold by Guatemala to the European Union between January and September, which totaled $684.76 million, 17% more than in the same period in 2013.
The goods most exported to the European Union (EU) are textiles, nickel, vegetables and coffee, with the main destinations being the Netherlands which recorded purchases of $219 million, followed by Belgium with $86 million, Germany with $79.5 million and Spain with $78.6 in the first nine months of the year.
Guatemalan bananas have recovered ground lost in recent years in the international market.
In 2013 banana sales abroad generated revenues of $623 million, up 25% compared to those reported in 2012, when $499 million was received for this item.
"The commercial record indicates that in the last 10 years, exports have registered an increase of 197%, going from $209.9 million in 2003 to $623 million last year."
Guatemala exports to South Korea and China have increased by 185% and 382%, respectively.
Details from the Guatemalan Association of Exporters (Agexport) show that South Korea and China are the two Asian countries with the most products sales from the Central American nation, with honey, sugar and shrimp being the main exports.
" ... Over the past year the value of products shipped to South Korea totaled $151.5 million, while in 2012 $53 million was sold, representing an increase of 185.5 %," said Estuardo Castillo, president of Agexport.
The volume purchased by China in the recent harvest is equivalent to that acquired between 2005 and 2011.
In the 2012-13 harvest, three Asian countries purchased 673,843 metric tons (MT) of sugar, equivalent to 35% of the country's total export crop. China bought 341,218 MT giving it h a 20% share, which is equivalent to the amount it acquired from 2005 to 2011, which was 311,073 MT.
During the first six months of 2013 the country received $700 million from exports of sugar.
Sugar sales during the first half gave a big boost to other exports. According to the Bank of Guatemala (Banguat), up to June exports reported a total of $5.298 billion, up 1.6% from the income generated in the same period in 2012 which was $5.215 billion.
According to Armando Boesche, manager of the Sugar Association of Guatemala (Asazgua), the country saw a record harvest and last September and at the beginning of 2013 it was possible to quote a good price for the product on the stock market. "I hope that prices don't drop because different producing countriessuch as Mexico and Brazil have also had plentiful crops," he said.
In the month of January, the sector of ornamental plants, foliage and flowers generated $6.2 million in foreign exchange, which is an increase of 6.9% compared to the same period in 2012, when they totaled $5.8 million.
According to data from the Bank of Guatemala (Banguat), this segment makes up one of the top 25 export products, and is recovering after the economic crisis of 2009.
The industry ranks as the number one generator of foreign exchange with $1,130 million exported in 2011, displacing coffee, according to official data.
Guatemalan clothing and textile exports reached $1,130 million between January and November 2011, which slightly exceeds the revenue generated by coffee, which amounted to $1,110 million in the same period, reported the Bank of Guatemala (Banguat).
Between January and August foreign sales increased by 14% compared to the same period in 2010.
The production and export of cosmetics and fragrances in Guatemala is growing steadily, so much so that more than $100 million worth has bee exported so far this year.
The main destinations for the products are Central America countries, which account for 84% of the country's export supply.
Imports grew, but so did exports, giving stability to the trade deficit.
Between January and August, exports and imports grew by 26% and 24% respectively compared to the same period last year.
The data is the result of the dynamism experienced by Guatemalan foreign trade, which driven by strong domestic economic activity, is growing significantly.
Foreign sales of wood products up to July increased by $718 million, equivalent to 19.8%.
Data from the Bank of Guatemala indicates that total exports for July amounted to $4,347 million.
The main markets for Guatemalan furniture are Central America, the United States and Europe.
The president of the Furniture Manufacturers Committee and Forest Products (COFAM) of the Guatemalan Association of Exporters (Agexport), Carlos Porras, told Siglo21.com.gt that "... the increase is due to two factors: one is that product demand has increased and the other is projections of a more dynamic economy. "
In the first six months of the year, exports totaled $5,400 million.
The amounts sold abroad exceeded 25% of the $4,300 million from the same period in 2010, according to the Bank of Guatemala.
"Foreign exchange earnings from the sale of traditional products increased by 25.9 percent from $1.4 billion in the first half of 2010 to $1.7 billion during the same period this year.
The exporters' association estimates that this year foreign sales will exceed $10 billion.
The rise in international demand and improved prices has led the Guatemalan association of exporters (Agexport) to revise upward its forecast for exports this year.
In early 2011, industry representatives predicted an increase of just 8%, well below the current estimated range of 18% to 22%.
The country sold $4,578 million worth of goods abroad in the first 5 months of the year, 26.8% more than in the same period in 2010.
According to officials from the Bank of Guatemala, the increase is mainly explained by the increase in the price of commodities, especially sugar, bananas, coffee and cardamom oil.
In general, higher export volumes were also reported, sugar being the main exception, due to lower production.