During the second quarter of 2021, there was an increase in imports of motorcycles from Central America, reporting an 84% increase in purchases in the region.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphic"]
In 2020, motorcycle imports in Central America totaled $365 million, a 1.42% increase over 2019, with Guatemala being the largest importer in the region.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graphic"]
From January to September 2020, motorcycle imports in the region totaled $237 million, 11% less than in the same period of 2019, a drop explained by the behavior of purchases from El Salvador, Honduras, Panama and Costa Rica.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graph"]
Restrictions on mobilization due to the number of plates, the fear of using public transportation and the increase in demand for delivery services explain the 8% growth that Guatemala's vehicle fleet experienced between 2019 and 2020.
As a result of the outbreak of covid-19, during the second quarter of 2020, Guatemalan authorities decided to suspend ground passenger transportation and also imposed restrictions on the mobility of vehicles with private plates, which were applied based on their license plate number.
From January to June 2020, motorcycle imports in Central America totaled $164 million, 11% less than in the same period in 2019, a decrease that is explained by the behavior of purchases from El Salvador, Honduras, Panama and Costa Rica.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphic"]
In Central America, more than 8 million people search the Internet and participate in conversations associated with motorcycles. BMW, Suzuki and KTM are some of the brands with the greatest presence in the interactions of consumers with high purchasing power.
An analysis of consumer interests and preferences in Central America, prepared by the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData, yields interesting results on people's preferences and tastes for motorcycles and other types of products or services.
In recent months and given the new commercial reality, interest in motorcycles has been increasing in the digital environment, a rise that can be explained by consumer behavior in all Central American markets.
Through a system that monitors in real time changes in consumer interests and preferences in Central American countries, developed by CentralAmericaData, it is possible to project short and long term demand trends for the different products, sectors and markets that operate in the region.
During the first two months of 2020, motorcycle imports into the markets of El Salvador and Panama contracted the most, with year-on-year falls of 38% and 36%, respectively.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphic"]
After 198,000 motorcycles were sold in the country in 2019, local businessmen forecast that during 2020 the number of units sold could increase between 12% and 17%.
Data from the Association of Motorcycle Importers (Asim) indicate that on average 16,500 motorcycles are sold in the Guatemalan market per month, but only in February 2020 sales exceeded 19,000 units.
From January to September 2019, motorcycle imports into the Central American country reached $117 million, and 80% of total purchases were made from companies in China and India.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphics"]
From January to March 2019, Central American imports of motorcycles totaled $103 million, and purchases from companies in India decreased by 19% over the same period in 2018.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAPHIC caption="Click to interact with graphic"]
In recent years, the number of motorcycles in Guatemala has increased by 13%, from 1.33 million units registered in July 2017 to 1.5 million reported in the same month in 2019.
According to data from the Tax Registry of Vehicles of the Superintendence of Tax Administration (SAT), up to July 2019 the country's active vehicle fleet registered 3.76 million units, of which 40% corresponded to motorcycle type vehicles.
In the first nine months of 2018, companies in the region imported motorcycles for $301 million, 4% more than the amount reported in the same period of 2017.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graphic"]