During 2018, sales of packaged foods in the United Kingdom exceeded $84 billion, and 36% corresponded to private label products, which have quickly entered this market.
The study "Trends and requirements of private label buyers in the food sector in the United Kingdom", prepared by Procomer Costa Rica, indicates that the United Kingdom stands out as the second country in Europe with greater penetration of private label.
Guatemalan exporters report that President Trump's warning about export tariffs and taxes on remittances and transfers is raising doubts among U.S. buyers.
Uncertainty prevails among most Guatemalan businessmen after President Trump reacted to the provisional protection established by the Guatemalan Constitutional Court, which limits the functions of the Executive Branch to negotiate or sign any foreign policy agreement.
Although in the first half of the year sales abroad reported a slight decrease of 0.4% over the same period in 2018, the business sector in El Salvador expects exports to rebound in the remainder of the year.
Exports from El Salvador up to June of this year registered a total of $3,033.9 million, with a reduction of $13.6 million, compared to the same period in 2018, when the total amounted to $3,047.4 million, informed the Central Reserve Bank.
The complex economic and political situation that has affected Nicaragua since April continues to affect Central America, where exporters report losses of $45 million.
In the past months, cargo transport faced difficulties in moving goods along Nicaragua's highways due to demonstrators' blockades and insecurity, seriously affecting Central American companies.
As part of the Buyers Trade Mission, from 25 to 27 September, 500 Costa Rican exporters will be meeting with 300 entrepreneurs from 50 countries.
The Foreign Trade Promotion Office (Procomer), the institution in charge of organizing the event, reported that this year it foresees holding 5,300 business appointments at the event, which will take place at the Costa Rica Convention Center, in Barreal de Heredia.
A virtual seminar has been organized for April 5, on recommendations to negotiate with Indian companies and best practices for exporting to that market.
From a statement issued by PROCOMER:
ConnectAmericas, anonlineplatformcreated by the Inter - American Development Bank (IDB) with support from Google, DHL, Visa and Alibaba will be holding afreewebinaron essential tips for doing business in India, on April 6 at 10:00 am, in which best practices for entering the Indian market will be explored and useful guidelines will be provided for the export process.
A free webinar has been organized for September 8 which will address the basic guidelines for exporters to sell in the South American country.
The webinar organized by the Inter-American Development Bank will be held on Thursday, September 8 at 10 am (Central American time), through the ConnectAmericas platform.
It will address best practices for export to Brazil, including basic guidelines for exporting to this market, including the role of customs, major regulatory agencies and import requirements.
Salvadoran exporters claim that the system used by the Ministry of Finance from November to return VAT has put a strain on companies liquidity.
The new mechanism to refund VAT to exporters (which has been in force since November), has caused new problems between the sector and the tax authority of El Salvador.
It has been announced that as of November 17th enterprises must carry out a mandatory exporter VAT self-assessment using a web platform.
The union of exporters is not entirely satisfied with this online system, stating that it has some limitations, such as only allowing "... cross matching withholding of exporter VAT with importer VAT to recover the money.
In the last two years Guatemala has doubled its exports of biscuits, sweets, chewing gum, confectionery, and preparations for soup and drinks going to the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago.
In the first half of this year sales by the food industry to Caribbean countries topped $20 billion, $13 billion more than in the same period in 2013.
Exporters claim that the Ministry of Finance takes up to 10 months to give credit notes for tax refunds, accumulating a debt of $70 million.
To date the Ministry of Finance has issued $41 million in Treasury credit notes (NCTP) to pay off part of the debt. However, representatives from the Corporation of Exporters of El Salvador (Coexport) state that this type of payment represents a loss for exporters, as NCTP's can be sold but wat a discount of up to 5%.
In El Salvador the export sector claims that delays of up to nine months are being reported on tax refunds due from the Treasury, which should take no more than 30 days.
Seven months ago the Exporters Corporation of El Salvador (Coexport) submitted to the Ministry of Finance a proposal for self-assessment of Value Added Tax (VAT) with the aim of reducing the time it takes to receive tax refunds.
The rise in price in a market with short supply is the reason for the suspension of three months of the granting of export health certificates for the 'seda" variety of red bean.
From a statement issued by the Ministry of Economy (MINEC):
Joint Action Plan to counter rising prices in beans.
In the framework of its powers and the joint action of the National Consumer Protection, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG), the Ministry of Economy (MINEC) and the Consumer Advocate, have activated a joint action plan which will be effective from Thursday May 15, containing dissuasive and contingent measures against the rising price of beans which has been seen in some markets in the country.
The conflict over charging for non intrusive inspections at borders has negatively affected exporters.
In January there were exports for $402.8 million, 16% less than the amount reported in the same month in 2013, when $477.9 million worth of goods was sold abroad, according to the Central Reserve Bank (Banco Central de Reserva).
The conflict over the $18 charge for inspection using scanners at customs offices has negatively affected exporters.
Of the major producers in the region, Nicaragua was the most affected, having exported 64% less in the first four months of the harvest.
Except for Brazil coffee exports from nine countries in Latin America fell by 8% during the first four months of the harvest which began in October compared with the same period of the previous cycle. Nicaragua was the most affected with a fall of 64 % in sales of the grain.