Between January and June 2017, the region imported $67 million worth of fruit and vegetable juices, 5% more than was purchased in the same period in 2016.
Figures from the information system on the Fruit and Vegetable Juice Market in Central America, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with graph"]
Between 2012 and 2016 imports of beef in the country doubled, going from $24 million to $50 million, while in the same period local cattle slaughter fell by 17%.
Figures from the Livestock Development Corporation (CORFOGA) indicate that consumption of imported beef has grown steadily in recent years. In 2010 the country imported 4,731 tons, while in 2016 the figure was 9,406 tons.
In 2013 $20 million worth of bottles of wine were imported, of which 52% came from Chile.
Following Chilean wines, the largest imports in 2013 were from Argentina, with sales from this country worth $2.5 million, then Spain, with $2.4 million and finally Italy with $1.7 million.
"More than half of the wine imported into Costa Rica is Chilean. In relation to imported wine ...
In 2013 there was a reduction in the collection of the selective consumption tax on "luxury" or non essential goods such as vehicles and alcoholic drinks.
For the first time since the 2008-2009 period the collection of the tax levied on imported goods such as vehicles, liquor and cigarettes fell by 11% compared to 2012, primarily in the area of vehicles.
At least ten companies are competing in a market where the amount of tons sold between 2008 and 2013 grew by 24%.
In Costa Rica, the market for sausages is fought over by at least 10 companies, where Corporación Pipasa, a subsidiary of Cargill International, is the largest participant. Whereas in 2008 20.2 tonnes of sausages sold in, 2013, 25 tons were sold in the country.
Its qualities as a natural moisturizer and its nutritional benefits, as well as an advertising campaign developed by importers, have contributed to increased consumption.
From an article by the Costa Rican Trade Promotion Office (PROCOMER):
Coconut water consumption is growing significantly in the UK, due to the recognition of its qualities as a natural moisturizer and its nutritional benefits.
In the UK there is a tendency to consume more palm oil from sustainable production and it has become the third largest global importer of this product.
From an article by the Foreign Trade Promotion Office of Costa Rica (PROCOMER):
Palm oil is the second most consumed oil in the world. The UK is the third global importer of this product, which is used in food, cosmetic and oleo-chemical products.
The high demand from consumers has forced distributors to increase the import of this product.
While this is happening, oversupply in the local production of fresh potatoes is deteriorating domestic production. According to Fabian Segura, president of the Costa Rican Chamber of Potato Growers, there is an oversupply as a result of over-seeding, but what is having the biggest effect is the preference for frozen pre-fried potatoes.
Recent surveys conducted by the company Ipsos, reveal an increase in the number of Chinese consumers who prefer imported to locally produced food.
A press release from the Costa Rican Trade Promotion Office (Procomer) reads:
According to the results of a survey conducted by the international company Ipsos, there has been an increase in the number of Chinese consumers who prefer imported to locally produced food.
The French market for organic products grew by 10% in 2011, despite the crisis.
From a press release by Procomer:
Despite the crisis the consumption of organic products in France has increased.
In ten years, the French "bio" market, despite the crisis, has maintained the interest of consumers. The market has grown ten percentage points in 2011 to reach a turnover of around 4 billion euros, while French household consumption has declined by 0.5% on average for 2011, partly due to decreased spending on food, according to the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies in France.
European consumers paying attention to environmental conservation matters are addressing the criticism of the palm oil production, by increasingly opting for products not containing it.
A statement from the Trade Promotion Office of Costa Rica (PROCOMER):
Increased preference for food free from palm oil in Europe
The growing concern by European consumers regarding the adverse environmental effects of palm oil production is leading companies to increase supply of products that are free of this fat. This has been reinforced by initiatives such as the one carried out by the environmental group Greenpeace who led a campaign against Nestle and its star product KitKat because of the use of this oil in its production.
It is predicted that in Mexico the sale of "Health and wellness" in 2015 will be 50% higher than in 2010.
A statement from the Costa Rican Trade Office reads:
Sales of "Health and wellness" products in Mexico will grow by 49.3%
According to statistics from Euromonitor International, in 2015, sales of "Health & Wellness" products in Mexico will amount to USD 33,000 million, which is an increase of 49.3% compared to 2010.
Mango imports in the U.S. rose from $226 million in 2007 to $343 million in 2011, representing an increase of 13%.
A statement from the Costa Rican Trade Office reads:
Bananas are still the leaders among American consumers who purchasesd around 2 billion dollars worth in 2011 and the growth rate for this product is 5% this year. However, mangos are on the rise and they are starting to compete with other more traditional products such as strawberries and pineapples in this market.
The amount of mangoes sold in Germany in the first three months of 2012 compared with the same period in the previous two years, fell by more than half.
A statement from PROCOMER reads:
Mango sales have collapsed in Germany. The amount of mangoes sold in Germany in the first three months of 2012 compared to the same period in the previous two years fell by more than half, according to the German Association Agrarmarkt Informations-Gesellschaft (AMI).