Following the government's self declaration, negotiations with trading partners have been announced to resume the export of live pigs, pork products and by-products, especially to Central America.
From a statement issued by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food in Guatemala:
Guatemala, August 11, 2016.Ministerial Agreement 141-2016 officially establishes the self declaration of the country as being stable and free of Classical Swine Fever (CSF).This will allow for resumption of negotiations with trading partners and resumption of exports of live pigs, products and byproducts, mainly to Central America.This will have a positive impact on the economy as these items are estimated to be worth close to $10 million.
The company Alba Foods of Nicaragua will close down in September as a result of a significant decline in sales to Venezuela.
Since the economic crisis in Venezuela has got worse, sales of the company by Alba Alimentos de Nicaragua S.A. have not stopped falling and the decision to close the operations of the food processing company is due to this situation.
Frozen meat and meat products such as sausages, ham and salami are some of the goods imported by supermarkets, restaurants and hotels in India.
From a report by Eurocarne.com:
The Foreign Service at the United States Department of Agriculture has prepared a report on the situation of the pork production in India and trade of this product.According to the report, the Asian country produced around 464,000 tons of this product from April 2014 to March 2015 and this amount accounts for 8% of the total protein intake in the country. It also states that the figure is 1.4% more than in the same period in previous years.
A rise is anticipated in the international price of pork in the third quarter of 2016 because of continued strong demand from the Asian country.
From a report on Agromeat.com:
Continued strong demand for pork from China and maintenance of supply will be the main factors in the third quarter of 2016, according to a report by Rabobank concerning the third quarter of 2016.In the view of Albert Vernooij, animal protein analyst at Rabobank, "this will lead to an increase in pork prices on the Rabobank index, improving margins for farmers".
Under the terms of the Partial Scope Trade Agreement bovine and porcine meat from Panama will enter the Caribbean country duty-free.
Panamaamerica.com.pa reports that "...Panama received 51 additional lines in its favor which include dairy products such as cheese, a variety of fresh and frozen seafood, juices made from non-tropical fruits, flowers and foliage, fruit and vegetables, tropical fruits, flour, fat and fish oil, sausages, butter, fats, cocoa oil and salt. "
Sectors related to metal mechanics, tires, plastics, chemicals and electrics in Costa Rica have asked for their products to be excluded in the negotiation of a regional trade agreement with the Asian tiger.
The industrial and agricultural sectors are those who have objected in the process for negotiation of a free trade agreement with South Korea, arguing that some products would be hurt by the arrival of similar products from China.
Administrative problems at the Institute for the Protection of Animal and Plant Health have delayed visits by foreign inspectors to processed meat plants.
An article on Laprensa.com.ni reports that the president of the Chamber of Processors in Nicaragua (Caprocan), Zacharias Mondragón, noted that "... Instability in the headquarters of the Institute for the Protection of Animal and Plant Health (IPSA) has delayed sales of sausages and pork produced in the country. "
An increased supply of imported pork has caused a general price reduction and increased annual per capita consumption by two kilos.
Demand for pork in Costa Rica increased from 11 kilograms (kg) per capita in 2014 to 13 kg per capita in 2015, according to figures from the Costa Rican Chamber of Pork Producers (Caporc) cited by Nacion.com.
Agricultural production in Mexico is favored by the devaluation of the peso, which has encouraged smuggling to Guatemala of pork products, coffee, poultry and eggs.
The union of entrepreneurs in the agricultural and livestock sector is claiming that it is now not only pork which is being traded illegally on the border, but other products such as coffee, eggs and poultry.
Between 2014 and 2015 the number of head of cattle declined by 5.2%, while pigs increased by 5.7%.
The number of cattle in the country, counted in heads, fell by 5.2% between 2014 and 2015, according to figures from the National Institute of Statistics and Census (INEC), at the Comptroller General of the Republic.
According to figures from the Advance Livestock Poll, cattle fell by 84,700 heads between one year and the next, totaling 1,539,000 in 2015. The western sectors of Panama and Bocas del Toro saw the highest reductions (-13% and -10.9%).
The law which required packages of meat beef and pork products to have a label indicating the country of origin is no longer in effect.
After repeated resolutions from the World Trade Organization, which authorized Canada and Mexico to implement economic retaliation measures worth more than $1 billion, the US Congress has finally decided to remove the law that requires labeling of all red meat products which are sold in the retail market in the country.
The producers union has estimated the number of pigs per month which are smuggled illegally from Mexico at 2500, causing losses of $15 million a year.
The Association of Pork Producers of Guatemala (APOGUA) states that the annual pork sales total $323 million, but could be more if it were possible to minimize the illicit flow of pork from Mexico.
Elperiodico.com.gt reports that "...Despite performing surveillance on the border with Mexico to stop and report the crime, it is estimated that in one month about 2500 pigs are able to enter from Mexican territory. According to the general manager APOGUA, Carlos Zuastegui, so far in 2015 that 8400 pounds of pig meat have been seized."
Between January and October the numbers of cattle slaughtered remained almost unchanged compared to the same period in 2014, while pork production recorded an increase of 5%.
The effects of climate influenced the results of beef production, mainly during the first half of the year. Representatives of the union of producers anticipate that next year they will be "...
The Institute of Agricultural Health Protection is seeking financing to develop a traceability pilot plan for the production of pork.
The proposal put forward by representatives of the Institute for the Protection and Animal Health (IPSA) is to implement a traceability system similar to that applied in the production of beef and shrimp.
Ulises Narvaez, director of the IPSA, told Trincheraonline.com that "...
There is a growing trend for pork consumption, encouraged in some countries in the region by ad campaigns created by companies in the sector.
An article on Eleconomista.net reports that "... Central Americans are eating more and more pork. At the head is Costa Rica, with a per capita consumption of 13 kilos in 2014. And while none of them are the same, all markets are demanding more.