Between January and July 2018 and the same period in 2019 the number of pigs slaughtered in Panama decreased 9%, while the slaughter of cattle increased 3%.
The most recent data from the General Comptroller's Office of the Republic of Panama detail that in the first seven months of the year 193,231 head of cattle were slaughtered, a figure higher than the 187,248 reported in the same period of 2018.
In some cantons of Guanacaste, Puntarenas, Alajuela, Cartago and San José, the government declared a state of emergency because of the hydric deficit in the country, a consequence of the abnormal behavior of rainfall.
Rainfall behavior is an effect of the Southern Oscillation, El Niño (ENSO). The situation has affected human consumption of liquid, productive activities of agricultural vocation and the environment, informed the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock.
Between the first half of 2018 and the same period in 2019, the number of cattle slaughtered in Panama increased 3%, while the slaughter of pigs decreased 9%.
The most recent data from the General Comptroller's Office of the Republic of Panama detail that in the first six months of the year 163,899 head of cattle were slaughtered, a figure higher than the 159,466 reported in the same period of 2018.
In response to alerts of African Swine Fever cases reported in Asia, authorities in El Salvador reported that they will carry out fumigations on air, land and sea transportation coming from the affected countries.
The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) alerted the countries of the region at the end of June to strengthen animal health controls and public and private veterinary services in the member states to prevent the recurrence of African Swine Fever (ASF) in the region.
Because Guatemalan authorities have not yet completed the health control program, local producers cannot export live cattle to Mexico, where they could sell between 10,000 and 15,000 head a month.
For Guatemalan cattle ranchers, Southern Mexico is an attractive market, because there is interest on the part of Mexican businessmen to buy standing cattle at better prices than those quoted in Guatemala.
Reports of African Swine Fever in Asia alert countries in the region to strengthen border controls, especially in the management of food waste from airplanes and ships.
The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) urged the strengthening of animal health and public and private veterinary services in the member states to prevent the recurrence of African swine fever (ASF) in the region, the institution warned in a statement.
Between the first five months of 2018 and the same period in 2019, the slaughter of cattle in Panama increased 4%, while that of pigs decreased 8%.
The most recent report of the General Comptroller of the Republic of Panama details that in the first five months of the year 137,636 head of cattle were slaughtered, a figure higher than the 132,136 reported in the same period of 2018.
Businessmen of the sector estimate that annually they export near $9 million in bovine meat, below the $10 million reported in imports.
For the National Federation of Farmers and Cattlemen of Honduras (Fenagh) it is contradictory that the trade balance is unfavorable, since the annual production of meat is 60 thousand tons, and in spite of having surpluses it is resorted to the import.
After completing all the requirements, Panamanian authorities announced that next June 21 will leave the first container with 200 tons of beef bound for the Asian country.
At the end of March, it was reported that the meat product plants that received the endorsement of the General Administration of Customs of China to start marketing their products were Matadero de Chiriquí, S.A. (Machisa), Unión Ganadera, S.A. (Ungasa) and Macello.
For businessmen in the sector the decline in dairy sales to May this year is mostly because of the rise in tax obligations in the country, directly impacting on export competitiveness.
Data from the Center for Export Procedures (Cetrex), say that between January and May 2018, and the same period in 2019, foreign sales of dairy fell from $53 million to $45 million, equivalent to a fall of 16%.
Between the first four months of 2018 and the same period in 2019, the number of cattle slaughtered in Panama increased 4%, while the slaughter of pigs decreased 7%.
The latest figures from the Office of the General Comptroller of the Republic of Panama detail that in the first four months of the year 108,750 head of cattle were slaughtered, a figure higher than the 104,174 reported in the same period of 2018.
In Panama, the dry season began in November last year and not in December as planned, threatening production because of the shortage of pasture for livestock.
Representatives of the National Cattlemen's Association (Anagan) reported that they were not notified in advance about the expected change in the cycle because of the Niño Phenomenon, which prevented them from preparing to face the lack of rain in better conditions.
Between the first quarter of 2018 and the same period in 2019, the number of cattle slaughtered in Panama increased 6%, while the slaughter of pigs decreased 7%.
The most recent data from the General Comptroller of the Republic of Panama detail that in the first three months of the year 82,279 head of cattle were slaughtered, a figure higher than the 78,015 reported in the same period of 2018.
The socio-political crisis that Nicaragua has been suffering since a year ago, together with the recent tax reform, forces businessmen in the livestock sector to postpone investments in genetic improvement and technology.
Nicaragua's businessmen have been dealing hard times in the last year, because in the midst of the political and economic crisis that Nicaragua has been facing since April 2018, the National Assembly approved in early 2019 a tax reform that raises the income tax of large taxpayers from 1% to 3%.
In Panama, the processing plant Union Livestock received the endorsement to market beef in the Asian country, and it is expected that the first containers will be shipped in late April.
At the end of last year, it was reported that the meat product plants that received the endorsement by the General Administration of Customs of China to start selling their products to the Asian giant were Matadero de Chiriquí, S.A.