During the first two months of the year, the country's foreign sales totaled $1,015 million, 7% more than the amount reported for the same period in 2019, a rise that is largely explained by the behavior of manufacturing industry exports.
The manufacturing industry, including maquila, exported $974.9 million with a 6.1% annual growth, equivalent to $56.4 million more compared to the same period in 2019, reported the Central Bank.
During the first two months of the year, the country's sales abroad amounted to $519 million, 15% more than the same period in 2019, a rise that is explained by the increase in international prices.
Figures from the Center for Export Procedures (Cetrex) detail that between the first two months of 2019 and the same period of 2020, exports increased by $68 million, from $450 million to $519 million.
During 2019, general merchandise exports totaled Ch$4.16 billion, 2.7% less than reported in 2018, a decrease that is explained by the reduction in coffee, banana and zinc sales.
Agro-industrial activity reported exports of $2,170.9 million, $142.9 million less than in 2018, mainly because of the decline in coffee exports by $168.5 million (15.1%), this result is associated with increased global supply of the grain, reported the Central Bank of Honduras (BCH).
During 2019, the global amount of exports reached Ch$11,184 million, with clothing, bananas, coffee, sugar and cardamom being the main products sold abroad.
The total amount of General Trade exports was of Ch$11,184 million, higher by Ch$214 million (2%) than that recorded in 2018 (Ch$10,970 million). The most important products according to their participation in the total value of exports were: Clothing with Ch$1,398 million (12.5%), Banana with Ch$843.6 million (7.5%), Sugar with Ch$695 million (6.2%), Coffee with Ch$662.4 million (5.9%), as well as Cardamom with Ch$648 million (5.8%). These products represented 37.9% of total exports, reported the Bank of Guatemala.
During 2019, sales abroad totaled $713 million, exceeding the amount reported in the previous year by 6%.
Data from the General Comptroller of the Republic, detail that between 2018 and 2019 exports reported $41 million increase, from $672 million to $713 million.
For the periods in question, banana exports grew 30%, increasing from $106 million to $138 million, and in the case of fish meal and oil sales rose by 57%, from $47 million to $75 million.
As of November 2019, the global amount of exports reached $10.185 million, with clothing, bananas, coffee and sugar being the main products sold abroad.
The total amount of General Trade exports was $10.184 million, higher by $114 million (1.1%) than that recorded up to November 2018 ($10.070 million). The most important products according to their participation in the total value of exports were: Clothing with $1,282 million (12.6%), Banana with $780 million (7.7%), Coffee with $640 million (6.3%), Sugar with $621.6 million (6.1%), as well as Cardamom with $513 million (5%). These products represented 37.7% of total exports, reported the Bank of Guatemala.
In 2019, exports of goods are estimated to total nearly $11.526 million, barely 2% higher than reported in the previous year, and far from the 6% increase recorded in 2018.
According to estimates by the Ministry of Foreign Trade, foreign sales of services registered greater dynamism last year, since between 2018 and 2019, they went from Ch$9,090 million to Ch$9,565 million, equivalent to a 5% increase.
From January to November 2019, Panama reported imports of Ch$11,824 million, and foreign purchases of capital goods grew by 3% over the same period in 2018.
The latest report from the General Comptroller of the Republic details that between the first eleven months of 2018 and the same period in 2019, purchases abroad fell by $277 million, from $12,101 million to $11,824 million.
Foreign sales by Salvadoran companies slowed for the second consecutive year, as between 2017 and 2018 the year-on-year growth rate fell from 6% to 3%, and by 2019 a rise of just 0.7% was recorded.
Exports from El Salvador at the end of 2019 reached US$5,943.3 million with a year-on-year growth of 0.7% and 4.7% in terms of volume compared to 2018, informed the Central Reserve Bank.
Up to October 2019, sales abroad totaled $611 million, exceeding by 5% the amount reported for the same period in 2018.
The most recent figures of the General Comptroller of the Republic, detail that between January and October 2018 and the same period in 2019 exports reported a rise, going from $584 million to $611 million.
For the periods in question, banana exports grew 33%, increasing from $86 million to $114 million, and in the case of watermelon sales rose by 34%, from $9 million to $12 million.
From January to October 2019, Honduras' foreign sales totaled $3,502 million, 4.8% less than in the same period of 2018.
The drop-in exports derives from the decline in shipments abroad of goods such as coffee, bananas, palm oil and zinc, which were affected in part by lower international prices. However, there was an increase in the export value of melons and watermelons, soaps and used gold accessories.
Between January and October 2019, imports of Capital Goods reached $2.853 billion, 5% higher than reported in the same period of 2018.
Total imports reached $16.582 million, $124 million (0.8%) higher than October 2018 ($16.458 million). The increase in imports was mainly influenced by the positive variation observed in Non-Durable Consumer Goods with a $148 million (5.1%) increase as well as in Capital Goods for Industry with a $117.1 million (5.4%) increase, informed the Banco de Guatemala.
In a context of economic recession, Nicaraguan exports have recorded good performance, as to November 2019 revenues totaled $2,536 million, 4% higher than reported in the same period of 2018.
Figures from the Centro de Tramites de Exportaciones (Cetrex) detail that between January and November 2018 and the same period in 2019, foreign sales increased by $89 million, going from $2,447 million to $2,536 million.
During September, sales abroad in the Dominican Republic reached $969 million, 6.5% higher than in the same month of 2018.
According to data from the Centro de Exportación e Inversión de Republica Dominicana (CEI-RD), between September 2018 and the same month in 2019, exports increased by $59 million, from $910 million to $969 million.
Among the most sold products abroad are gold, cigars, circuit breakers, medical instruments, ferronickel and jewelry.
Consistent with the behavior recorded since the beginning of the year, from January to September 2019 Honduran companies sold abroad $3.247 million, 7% less than reported in the same period of 2018.
From the Central Bank of Honduras report:
General merchandise exports reached a value of US$3,247.4 million at the end of September 2019, lower by 7.1% (US$246.7 million) year on year.