From January to March 2020, Central American vegetable exports totaled $99 million, 77% more than what was reported for the same period in 2019, a rise that is explained by the increase in the average price and the sales behavior of Guatemalan companies.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graph"]
The International Regional Organization for Agricultural Health alerted the region's ministries of agriculture to outbreaks of the devastating Central American locust.
The Central American authorities were informed of the alert in a note issued by the Regional International Organization for Agricultural Health (OIRSA) during the first stage of rains that ended in September.
Arguing that the unusual growth in sugar imports is harming local production, the Alvarado administration decided to raise the tariff on products entering Costa Rica from 45% to 73% for a three-year period.
The Ministry of Economy, Industry and Commerce (MEIC) concluded the investigation requested by the Agricultural Industrial League of Sugar Cane (LAICA) and 4 mills, on the safeguard measure against imports of solid state, granulated sugar, known as white sugar, used for domestic and industrial consumption, justifying a deterioration in the main economic indicators of the National Production Branch (RPN), details an official statement dated June 15.
From January to November 2019, companies in the countries of the region imported $35 million in fertilizers from Mexico, and 83% were bought by Guatemalan companies.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphics"]
In the first six months of 2019, Central American countries exported pineapple for $525 million, and sales to companies in the United Kingdom grew by 5% over the same period in 2018.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphics"]
The National Congress of Honduras approved a decree to allow local agricultural producers with credits in arrears in Banadesa to manage the readjustment for a further six months.
On January 23, 2020, deputies approved a draft decree to give producers who have debts with the National Agricultural Development Bank (Banadesa) an additional six-month extension for the readjustment of their obligations, reported the institution.
To stop competing with low prices, companies in Honduras focus on improving the quality of the grain they produce.
In the last few days on the New York Stock Exchange the ton of cocoa has been quoted at about $2,655, however, the better quality produced in the country allows companies like Chocolats Halba to pay local producers $4,000 per ton.
Luis Velex, manager of Chocolats Halba, a company that began operations in Honduras in 2008, told Laprensa.hn that "... Before we came here, there wasn't even a pound of fine chocolate produced here. This post-harvest process was taught, and our technicians follow up to ensure that the quality is maintained."
During the first half of 2019, exports from Central America of palm oil and its fractions reached $333 million, and sales to companies in Spain increased by 93% compared to the same period in 2018.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphics"]
From January to June 2019 Central American exports of vegetables totaled $105 million, 5% more than what was reported in the same period in 2018, a rise explained by the behavior of sales to companies in the United States.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphics"]
FAO estimates that by the end of 2019 the production of grain in the region will be 29.8 million tons, below the average volume reported in the last five years.
The decline in the volume harvested will be because of the rainfall deficits that this year affected grain crops in most countries, reported the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
To the denouncements made in recent months by businessmen from Guatemala and Nicaragua, is added that of a Honduran union, which denounces the invasion of 3,400 manzanas of productive land.
Honduran palm growers do not see improvements in their business in the short term, since they foresee that during 2020 international oil prices will remain low.
Some time ago, businessmen of the sector have been alerting of the crisis they are suffering, because in the first days of July of this year the National Federation of Associations of Oil Palm Producers and Extractors of Honduras (FENAPALMAH) and the Industrial Association of Palm Oil Producers of Honduras (AIPAH), declared themselves in national emergency.
During the first three months of 2019, companies in Central American countries imported insecticides, herbicides and fungicides for $132 million, and purchases from Mexican companies grew 12% over the same period in 2018.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAPHIC caption="Click to interact with graphic"]
Since October 1, in Guatemala, the Technical Regulation of Biosafety of Living Modified Organisms has been in force, which will allow the importation, commercialization and sowing of modified seeds known as transgenic, for human and animal consumption.
Until now, Guatemala could only import food that was the product of crops with modified seeds. With the entry into force of the regulation, the entry of transgenic seeds for marketing and planting purposes will be authorized.