For the third quarter of 2021 imports of soaps and cleaning products in the Central American region increased by 45% reaching $128 million in purchases, the main supplier is Honduras with $79 million.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graphic"]
During 2020, Guatemala continued to be the main buyer of soaps and cleaning preparations in the Central American region with $59.4 million, the supplier market was Honduras with $83.2 million, which is equivalent to 65.52%.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graphic"]
During the first quarter of 2021, consumption of household cleaning products increased in five of the six Central American markets, with Honduras and Panama reporting the highest year-on-year variation rates.
Data revealed by Kantar Worldpanel Division highlights that between January and March 2020 and the same period of 2021, consumption of indulgence and cleaning products increased 28% in Honduras, 17% in Panama, 13% in Nicaragua, 6% in Guatemala and 3% in El Salvador.
During 2020, total sales of cleaning chemical products in the Salvadoran market reached $143 million, 13% more than what was reported in 2019, with Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica and Mexico being the main suppliers of local companies.
institutional channel, which have shown an average annual growth of 5% in the last five years, according to a study by the Foreign Trade Promoter of Costa Rica (Procomer).
From January to June 2020, Central American countries imported soaps and cleaning preparations for $88 million, 23% more than what was reported in the same period of 2019, a rise that was reported in the context of the beginning of the pandemic that caused the covid-19 outbreak.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Area of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graph"]
Because in this context of new commercial reality the sales of alcohol, fertilizers, soaps, detergents and chemical and pharmaceutical products have increased, the productive activity of the Central American industrial sector has been dynamized.
According to figures from the Bank of Guatemala, during the III Quarter of 2020 the Guatemalan Gross Domestic Product reported -2% year-on-year variation, a behavior that contrasts with the evolution of the manufacturing industry, which for the period in question registered a 3% increase in its production.
Surf, Downy and Tide are some of the brands with the greatest presence in the searches and conversations on the Internet and social networks associated with these cleaning products, carried out by Central American consumers with high purchasing power.
An analysis of consumer interests and preferences in Central America, prepared by the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData, shows interesting results on people's preferences and tastes for detergents, fabric softeners and other cleaning products.
Reduced consumption of diapers and the drop in demand for toilet paper and paper towels used in restaurants, offices and hotels are some of the transformations faced by companies in the sector in this new commercial reality.
Because of the covid-19 outbreak, Central American families have been staying home longer than usual. This change in people's behavior led to a drop in the sale of baby diapers, according to businessmen in the sector.
In March, when the pandemic began, interest in pest control services rebounded in Central American countries, but since July the volume of searches and conversations associated with the subject on the Internet began to decrease, and by early November the trend was still downward.
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.
In the context of the new commercial reality in the digital environment, interest in pest control services has been rising, a rise that can be explained by consumer behavior in all Central American markets.
Through a system that monitors in real time changes in the interests and preferences of consumers in Central American countries, developed by CentralAmericaData, it is possible to project short and long term demand trends for the different products, services, sectors and markets that operate in the region.
In the new context, disinfection service companies are offering innovative solutions to meet new customer requirements, such as the use of ultraviolet light cleaning systems.
Cleaning articles and services are some of the issues that have gained ground in the digital environment in this context of health crisis, which derives from the outbreak of covid-19 in the region.
Making safety and hygiene protocols visible, communicating the cases of covid-19 of its personnel and applying technology in processes to generate trust among its clients are some of the changes that companies must apply in this new business context.
The health emergency and the economic crisis resulting from the covid-19 outbreak changed everything at a global level.
When the country's authorities begin to relax the restrictions that have been taken to prevent the spread of covid-19, it is predicted that laundry detergent sales could drop by 4%.
Using a demand/income sensitivity model developed by CentralAmericaData's Trade Intelligence Unit, variations in household demand for different goods and services can be projected as the most critical phases in the spread of covid-19 are overcome and mobility restriction measures are lifted in the countries of the region.
Butter, baby diapers, surface cleaners, and wheat and corn flour are some of the products most demanded by Guatemalan households in this context of quarantine and social isolation.
Yogurt, tuna, processed beans, cookies, rice and toilet paper are the other items that complete the list of ten more products bought by families in Guatemala in this new commercial reality, resulting from the health emergency caused by the outbreak of covid-19.
Authorities in El Salvador agreed that the prices of the masks should range from $0.73 to $2.67, while for alcohol gel it will be from $1.14 to $24.25, depending on the brands and presentations.