Betting on food that involves an industrial process, focusing on markets that are not saturated and on the trends that predominate among consumers are some of the strategies that could multiply the income of agricultural producers.
It is estimated that the sale of dried pineapple reaches a value on the international market of 1,600% higher than the price achieved by selling it fresh. In the case of dried mango, the difference amounts to 1.512%.
Between 2017 and 2018, milk sales from Costa Rica to Panama fell 24%, explained by increased competition, while exports to Guatemala and the Dominican Republic increased 21% and 13%, respectively.
According to figures from the Promotora del Comercio Exterior (Procomer), between 2017 and 2018 sales to Panama of milk and cream not concentrated and concentrated registered a 24% decline, falling from $7.5 million to $5.6 million.
From September 27 to 29 the eighteenth edition of the Buyers Trade Mission will bring together companies from Costa Rica and international buyers from 30 countries.
Business agenda with Costa Rican suppliers, development of contacts with company decision makers, visits to outlets and access to the exhibition area and product testing are part of what is on offer at the trade fair organized by PROCOMER which will be held in the Pedregal Events Centre in the province of Heredia.
Promotion is being given to exports to China of organic cocoa-based foods, chocolate confectionery, unsweetened cocoa powder and cocoa paste.
From a statement issued by the Foreign Trade Office of Costa Rica:
Western foods are gaining increasing market share in South Korea, whose market depends heavily on imports, which have been boosted by growth in per capita spending on food.
Opportunities in the Arab country have been announced for chutneys, organic coffee, pastries, organic tuna, dried fruits, plants, flowers and foliage.
The Foreign Trade Promotion Office (PROCOMER) has opened a trade promotion office in Qatar. Alvaro Stone, director of Exports at the office, informed Nacion.com that an official has been based in the premises of the Embassy of Costa Rica in that country since late last year.
Central American exporters can take advantage of the high prices the fruit is currently trading at in the United States because supply of the fruit from Mexico has been reduced.
From a statement issued by PROCOMER:
The reduced supply of watermelons from Mexico has kept prices high for imported product going to the United States. Since Mexican supply is limited, Central American shippers have the opportunity to leverage a relatively empty market.
One in four Americans use "encapsulated" or individually portioned coffee machines , changing consumer trends related to the drink in the country.
From a statement issued by the Costa Rica Foreign Trade Promotion Office (Costa Rica):
Machines for preparing individual portions of coffee made popular by Keurig Green Mountain Inc. are currently being used by one in four Americans and are changing coffee consumption patterns.
In 2014 average household spending on soft drinks, beers and soft drinks increased by 17%, while that of dairy products grew by 8%.
From a statement issued by the Foreign Trade Promotion Office of Costa Rica:
The purchasing power of the population of Panama has been strengthened in recent years, thanks to the rapid economic growth of this country, which according to World Bank figures, has an annual per capita income of over $10,000.
Since 2011 the import of fruit pulp in the Andean country has seen average annual growth rates of 30%.
From a statement issued by the Costa Rican Foreign Trade Promotion Office (PROCOMER):
Imports of fruit pulps in Peru grew by 79% in 2014 compared to 2013, which adds to sustained growth seen since 2011 (on average 31% annually). Imports are mainly from the USA, Brazil and Argentina.
It is increasingly common to find in major Chinese cities imported food stores and supermarkets with wide ranges of products like chocolates, cheeses and beers.
From a statement issued by the Costa Rica Foreign Trade Promotion Office (PROCOMER):
The transition China has experienced has allowed imports to go from being expensive and difficult to being readily available.
Canned tuna is preferred over presentations in glass or tetra pak containers, with increased demand reported in varieties of yellow and albacore tuna.
From a statement issued by the Costa Rican Foreign Trade Promotion Office (PROCOMER):
The consumption of canned tuna in the Middle East is concentrated in Kuwait, the UAE and Saudi Arabia, which depend entirely on imports, coming mainly from Thailand (86.4%), Italy (7.4%) and other Southeast Asian countries among these, the Philippines and Indonesia, with 6.6%.
Between 2009 and 2013 the consumption of fresh fruits in the northern country increased 6%, while in the same period vegetable consumption went up by 5%.
From a statement issued by the Costa Rican Foreign Trade Promotion Office (Procomer):
The Canadian market for fresh fruits and vegetables is estimated to be worth $11.2 billion a year. The average Canadian buys fresh produce at least once a week and consumes three to five servings per day, well below the eight to ten servings recommended by Canada's Food Guide.
Although only a few Costa Rican companies take part in trade shows worldwide, those that have done so generally obtaing good results.
During 2014 more than 50 exporting companies in Costa Rica took part in international trade fairs in order to meet potential customers, promote their business and strike deals to increase their shipments abroad. As a result of participation in some of these international fairs, agricultural products such as taro, ginger, squash, sweet potato, among others, will start be sold in the US soon.
Projections are for the period 2014-2019 of an average annual growth of 5% in sales of organic chocolate in the country.
From an article by the Costa Rican Foreign Trade Promotion Office (PROCOMER):
In 2013, the chocolate confectionery industry in America had sales of $18,459 million, representing an average annual growth of 3.7% since 2009.
The segment of organic chocolate in the US had the strongest growth since 2009, as its sales increased by an average of 4.9% annually. It is expected that by 2014 sales in this segment will reach $185 million; also projected was that the average annual growth between 2014 and 2019 will be 5%, making it as the most dynamic segment of the US chocolate industry, a situation that has been attributed to a growing trend in the North American country to consume products certified organic for health and wellbeing reasons.
Changes in consumption patterns and the increase in household incomes is boosting imports of fresh fruit such as bananas.
From a statement issued by the Foreign Trade Promotion Office of Costa Rica (PROCOMER):
As banana consumption by Chinese people increases, importers are expanding the areas from which this fruit is provided. Goodfarmer, one of the largest importers of bananas in the country, has just responded to robust demand with plans to increase the amount of fruit imported from Ecuador.