As a result of barriers imposed by El Salvador on dairy products from Nicaragua and the crisis in the country, in the first half of the year sales reports showed a year-on-year fall of 9%.
According to statistics from the Central Bank of Nicaragua (BCN) in the first six months of the year cheese exports totaled $54 million, 9% less than the $60 million recorded in the same period in 2017.
In the first quarter of the year, trade in milk and dairy products among Central American countries totaled $77 million, and 73% was purchased by companies in El Salvador and Guatemala.
Figures from the Information System on the Milk and Milk Products Market in Central America, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with graph"]
On October 10 and 11, entrepreneurs from the milk and dairy sector will be meeting in the province of Heredia to discuss topics of interest and showcase their products.
The National Chamber of Milk Producers and the Central American Federation of the Milk Sector are organizing the VII Central American Congress of the Milk Sector, which will be held at the Pedregal Events Center, located in Heredia, Costa Rica.
According to the sector's union, in 2017 consumption of milk and its derivatives reached 212 liters per capita, 33% above the level recommended by international health agencies.
According to the National Chamber of Milk Producers (Caprole), growth in milk production recorded in the country in recent years, is explained by an increase in domestic demand and a rise in exports to Central America and the Caribbean.
In the Dominican Republic, approval has been given to a code of hygiene practices for milk powder and dairy products, which will regulate aspects such as handling and packaging practices, among other things.
From a statement issued by the Dominican Institute for Quality:
The Dominican Institute for Quality, INDOCAL, informs the approval of a code of hygiene practices for milk powder and dairy products, which aims to establish the application of general hygiene practices in handling, packaging, storage, transport, distribution and marketing, to ensure safe and healthy products. The quality body detailed the standards approved by the Expert Technical Commission of the Dominican Council for Quality (CODOCA) in its most recent meeting, these quality standards seek to meet the government's priority to ensure products that are safe for citizens and the development of exports.
In 2017, trade in milk and dairy products among countries in the region amounted to $306 million, 2% more than what was sold in 2016, and the highest value in the last six years.
Figures from the Information System on the Milk and Milk Products Market in Central America, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with graph"]
Lactolac has started operating a new production plant in Nejapa, department of San Salvador, for which it required an approximate investment of $15 million.
The industrial project included construction of buildings, water treatment plant and various works, development of security and electrical infrastructure, and purchases of machinery and equipment.
For this year, the government authorized the importation of 3,300 tons of whole milk powder, 7,700 tons of skimmed milk powder and 2,750 tons of butterfat.
According to ministerial agreement 012-2018 published on February 17 in the official newspaper La Gaceta, the Honduran government has authorized the entry of a batch of whole and skimmed milk powder, arguing that it is "...
The sector is backing new destinations such as the Dominican Republic and Cuba, through a commercial mission that will travel to these countries in search of potential buyers.
According to representatives from the Embassy of the Dominican Republic in Nicaragua, the Caribbean country imports from Europe and the US, milk powder, cheese and other dairy products. They explained that the requirements for the entry of products are "technically possible and in sanitary terms are those that are necessary."
The FAO Food Price Index continues to show a slow upward trend for the third consecutive month.
From a statement issued by the Food and Agriculture Organization:
The FAO Food Price Index (FFPI) averaged 151.8 points in April 2016, up 1.1 points (0.7 percent) from March, but almost 10 percent below its April 2015 level. A relatively strong rise in vegetable oil quotations coupled with a more modest gain in international prices of cereals more than offset a decline in dairy and sugar prices. The small increase in April represented a third month of gradual rise in the value of the FFPI.
The FAO Food Price Index averaged 150.2 points in February 2016, nearly unchanged from January, but 14.5% below February 2015.
From a statement issued by the Food and Agriculture Organization:
The FAO Food Price Index* (FFPI) averaged 150.2 points in February 2016, nearly unchanged from January, but 25.6 points (14.5 percent) below February 2015. The most outstanding development last month was a surge in vegetable oil quotations, which, along with a small recovery in meat prices, more than offset declining cereal, sugar and dairy prices.
Dairy imports into Honduras remained stable between 2013 and 2014, increasing by only 4% in each year, making a total of $42 million worth of imports in 2014.
Within the sector of dairy imports the product which increased the most was milk and cream , going from $15 million in 2013 to $20 million in 2014, which is an increase of 33% in imports.
However, imports of fresh cheese (unripened), including whey cheese, and curd, recorded a reduction of 43%, going from $8.3 million in 2013 to $4.7 million in 2014.
From January 2016 import tariffs will start to be phased out on chicken, rice and milk from the USA, reaching 0% in 2022 and 2025, under the DR-CAFTA agreement.
In Costa Rica local producers say they have been preparing for this for several years, but the country's loss of competitiveness due to high production costs and lack of action by the government to improve on this might prevent them from competing on equal terms.
In 2014 average household spending on soft drinks, beers and soft drinks increased by 17%, while that of dairy products grew by 8%.
From a statement issued by the Foreign Trade Promotion Office of Costa Rica:
The purchasing power of the population of Panama has been strengthened in recent years, thanks to the rapid economic growth of this country, which according to World Bank figures, has an annual per capita income of over $10,000.
In 2013 for the third consecutive year, Americans bought more butter than margarine, spending $2 billion on various brands.
During times when the world is demanding more protein, dairy products such as butter, are returning to the table of consumers who are now more concerned about nutrition that their figures.
The Wall Street Journal reports that "...Every American will consume this year an average of 2.5 kilos of butter-or shortening, as it is known in some places, according to data from the U.S. government That equates to almost 22.5 bars per person, to reach a total of 892,000 tonnes in the whole country, an amount not seen since World War II. "