From January 1st, 2020, the concentration of Sulphur in the fuel consumed by maritime transport vessels must not exceed 0.5%, a limit that until now was at 3.5%.
The international modifications related to the supply of fuel oil or marine fuel, which were approved by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), will apply to all vessels sailing in the world.
From January to November last year, the country exported $165 million in electricity to Mexico and Central America, 73% more than in the same period in 2017.
The Report of the Monetary, Exchange and Credit Policy of the Banco de Guatemala, details that the energy exportations are mainly caused by the investments made in the electricity transmission network of the country, which has allowed satisfying the increase of the demand coming from El Salvador and Honduras.
Price per gallon of regular gasoline: Costa Rica $3.59, Nicaragua $3.21, Honduras $3.20, El Salvador $2.74, Guatemala $2.66 and Panama $2.64.
From the Ministry of Economy of El Salvador report:
The downward trend of the reference prices for the present fortnight is mainly due to the increase of the gasoline reserves and the oil distillates of the United States of America (USA); according to the last report by the IEA, the gasoline reserves increased by 8.1 million barrels per week, the greatest increase in the last 6 weeks; likewise, the reserves of distilled fuels, such as diesel also increased by 10.6 million barrels per week, being the greatest increase in the last 3 weeks.
Price per gallon of regular gasoline: Costa Rica $3.94, Nicaragua $3.35, Honduras $3.27, El Salvador $2.78, Guatemala $2.78 and Panama $2.64.
From the report of the Ministry of Economy of El Salvador:
The latest report from 2018, provided by the International Energy Agency (AIE) reports that gasoline reserves experienced a significant increase of slightly more than 3.0 million barrels per week against expert forecasts that predicted a minimum increase of just 50,000 barrels per week. Also, distillates such as diesel, kept their production rate and was almost invariable its trend with respect to the previous week, as it only increased 2,000 barrels in the week, against an expectation of a 500 thousand barrels reduction, which despite the favorable environment for the reduction of such a derivative of oil along with heating, its stability allows prices to be downward, along with those of gasoline.
Price per gallon of regular gas: Costa Rica $3.94, Nicaragua $3.38, Honduras $3.36, El Salvador $2.86, Guatemala $2.82 and Panama $2.64.
From the report of the Ministry of Economy of El Salvador:
The current reference prices keep a clear downward trend, because of the oversupply provided by the three largest producers of oil and its derivatives, which represent 40% of world production.
In the first half of the year, Central American countries invested $164 million in purchasing electric transformers for $164 million, equivalent to a 6% increase over the same period in 2017.
Figures from the information system on the Transformers and Electrical Converters and Reactance Coils Market in Central America complied by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphic"]
In the first nine months of 2018, 33 environmental impact studies were presented in the countries of the region to develop energy generating plants and work on electricity grids.
The interactive platform "Construction in Central America", compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData, includes an up to date list of public and private construction projects for which environmental impact studies (EIA) were submitted to the respective institutions of each country.
Price per gallon of regular gasoline: Costa Rica $3.93, Nicaragua $3.55, Honduras $3.48, El Salvador $2.97, Guatemala $2.92 and Panama $2.77.
From the Ministry of Economy of El Salvador report:
During the last two months, the oil and its derivatives production has reached higher figures than expected, this is because the two largest producers, the United States and Saudi Arabia, have recorded figures never seen before.
In a new attempt, the authorities of the Regional Electricity Market announced the beginning of the feasibility study for the creation of a market through which electricity can be commercialized between Central America and the North American country.
Currently, Guatemala is the only country in the Northern Triangle that directly commercializes energy with counterparts in the Mexican market.
Fuels, plastic goods and pharmaceutical products led last year's imports made by Central American companies in the South American nation.
Figures from the information system of Commerce between Central America and Colombia, from the Trade Intelligence Area of CentralAmericaData:[GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphic"]
Price per gallon of regular gas: Costa Rica $4.11, Nicaragua $3.83, Honduras $3.66, Guatemala $3.17, El Salvador $3.16 and Panama $2.98.
From the report of the Ministry of Economy of El Salvador:
The latest production and export reports from the United States and Saudi Arabia have provided international price relief for oil and its products. The North American country, through the International Energy Agency (IEA), reported that in the last week it reached a maximum production of 11.6 million barrels a day (100 thousand barrels more than two weeks ago) due to unconventional production (shale). While the Arab country, the largest producer of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), reported an increase of approximately 127 thousand barrels more to 10.8 million barrels per day, which has led to an excess in supply over current demand for fuels.
During the first half of the year, countries in the region imported $197 million in electrical cables and wires, and 63% were bought by companies in Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Guatemala.
Figures from the information system of the Market of Wires, Cables and Other Electrical Conductors in Central America, from the Trade Intelligence Area of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphic"]
Price per gallon of regular gas: Costa Rica $4.11, Honduras $3.84, Nicaragua $3.79, El Salvador $3.37, Panama $3.32 and Guatemala $3.29.
From the report of the Ministry of Economy of El Salvador:
The production increase of the three major exporters of petroleum and its products at the end of October 2018 has contributed to the fall in international prices; the United States have produced approximately 11.5 million barrels per day, 500 thousand barrels more than its average production; Russia 11.3 million barrels per day, expecting to reach 11.4 million barrels per day in the next weeks; while Saudi Arabia produces an average of 10.7 million barrels per day, with expectations of increasing to 11 million barrels per day. With this increase in production, the International Energy Agency (IEA) has expressed that the oil markets seem " suitably supplied for now," and with a lower expectation in the demand for petroleum and products for 2019.
In response to the energy exports to Mexico, the CRIE warned Guatemala last month that it must comply with rules that protect the stability of the regional system.
Arguing that Guatemala is a signatory of the Framework Treaty for the Central American Electricity Market, the Regional Electricity Interconnection Commission (CRIE) warned that the norms designed to protect the stability of the Regional Electricity System (SER) must be fulfilled.
Price per gallon of standard gasoline: Costa Rica $4.21, Nicaragua $4.07, Honduras $3.87, El Salvador $3.56, Guatemala $3.52 and Panama $3.21.
From the report of the Ministry of Economy of El Salvador:
According to data from the IEA, the United States is in full season of hurricanes and the passing of Hurricane Michael through the Gulf of Mexico, on the production of crude oil and derivatives, generated losses in the two days of closure of the storm that represented about 9% of U.S. production of 11.1 million barrels per day. Making the reference prices for gasoline and distillates will present mixed fluctuations.