During the second quarter of 2021, imports of fruit and vegetable juices in Central America recovered by 18% equivalent to 88 thousand tons, representing $68 million, coming from Guatemala as the main supplier.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graphic"]
Since Chile and Peru do not ship the product at the beginning of each year and that in the highlands of the country there are suitable areas to harvest the fruit, it is possible to take advantage of the commercial opportunities that exist in the foreign market.
Specialists agree that in order to increase the production of this fruit, producers must become more technified, access to credit must be facilitated and marketing policies must be implemented.
In recent weeks in Central American countries, the volume of searches and conversations on the Internet associated with fruits and vegetables began to decrease, a downward trend that continued until mid-November.
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 operating in the region.
The supply of processed fruits and vegetables by Chilean companies is largely complemented by inputs from other countries, with berries, apples, kiwis, peaches and uncooked vegetables being some of the most demanded products.
During 2019, Chilean imports of fruits and vegetables amounted to Ch$200 million, 54% preserved and 22% frozen, 19% juices and 6% purées and jellies, explains a study by the Chilean Foreign Trade Promotion Agency (Procomer).
An industrial plant for the processing of vegetables, fruits, grains, dairy products, roots and tubers will be built in the canton of Coto Brus, province of Puntarenas.
The Costa Rican government awarded the contract for the construction of this industrial complex to the company Vidalco Empresa Constructora. It is estimated that the overall investment will be approximately $3 million.
It is estimated that Pricesmart S.A., Del Monte S.A. and Nestlé S.A. account for around 18% of the market share in the import of fruit and vegetable preparations.
Data from the “Corporate System of Companies” platform, from the Trade Intelligence unit of CentralAmericaData, provides details on the companies according to sector, main activity, volume and data of their imports, exports and other relevant data.
The unsatisfied demand for vegetables in the Salvadoran market opens opportunities for businessmen in the region to place their products in the coming years.
A diagnosis by the Foundation for Investment and Development of Exports of Honduras (Fide), estimates that by 2021 in El Salvador the unsatisfied demand for white onion, carrot and potato, together will total about 30 million tons.
In the first semester of 2018, official figures show an increase of 15% in sales abroad of fruits and 23% in those of legumes and vegetables.
Data from Banco de Guatemala indicates that "... Sales of fresh, dried or frozen fruit reached US $197.6 million from January to June, US $26.1 million more than in the same period in 2017.Pulses reported US $114.9 million, US $21.1 million more than last year."
With the purpose of generating new business relationships, representatives of the Honduran government have met with a group of buyers of fruits and vegetables from Dubai.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Honduras stated that on June 4 representatives from the institution held a meeting with the Group of Fruit and Vegetable Buyers of Dubai, composed of Arab business leaders who showed their interest in establishing commercial ties with the Central American country.
In Costa Rica, consumption of fruit increased from 156 kilos per person per year in 2012 to 175 kilos in 2015, while in the same period consumption of vegetables fell from 117 kilos to 112 kilos.
The most recent trend study of the Comprehensive Agricultural Marketing Program (PIMA), states that the most consumed crops in the country are bananas, oranges, pineapple and watermelon, in the category of fruits, while in the group of vegetables and legumes the most salient are potato, tomato, cabbage and chayote.
In 2016 Central American countries imported $127 million worth of fruits and vegetables juices, 4% more than in 2015.
Figures from the information system on the Fruits and Vegetables Market in Central America, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit atCentralAmericaData: [GRAPHIC caption = "Click to interact with the graph"]
In the first half of the year imports of fresh fruit and vegetables grew by 20% in volume and 27% in value compared to the same period in 2015.
From a statement issued by AgroMeat:
In the period from January to July 2016, Spanish imports of fresh fruit and vegetables totaled 1.7 million tons and reported revenues of 1,389 million euros, representing an increase of 20% in volume and 27% in value, reported the Spanish Federation of Producers and Exporters of Fruits, Vegetables, Flowers [...]
The country has established greater inspection controls on shipments of fruits and vegetables in order to avoid larvae and mosquitoes carrying the Zika virus from gaining a foothold.
From a statement issued by PROCOMER:
As a result of the United States being officially on the list of countries infected by Zika, exporters who send fruit to China will have to take extra precautions before exporting to the asian country.
Prawns, cheese, honey, vegetables, peanut oil, peanuts, raw sugar and fruits are some of the products that people want to have duty free status under the FTA.
In the framework of bilateral negotiations for free trade between the two countries, Nicaraguan businessmen pointed out that there are several products that are in the list for staged tax relief, such as shrimp, cheese, honey, vegetables, peanut oil, peanuts, sugar raw and fruits, but they are looking for a"better tariff treatment"for others that are pending negotiations.
Sugar, coffee and lead are the three major export products to the North American country, but opportunities have also been identified for vegetables, fruits, fish, shrimp, plastic, wood and textiles.
Exports of Guatemalan goods to Canada up to April 2016 amounted to $141 million, 83% more than was exported up to the same month in 2015. In order to take advantage of the opportunities the Canadian market has for exporting other products such as fruit, fish, plastics and textiles, for example, there is a need to ".... strengthen sanitary and phytosanitary measures and improve logistics in order to reduce shipping times for the products".