Almost $100 million is the export value of the over 500 species and three thousand varieties of ornamental plants, cut flowers and foliage shipped in 2015.
Of the total production of flowers, ornamental plants and foliage,80% goes to the international market, while the remaining 20% is sold locally.In 2015 salesabroad totaled $95.3 million, and between January and August this year the figure has already exceeded $70 million.
Central America's direct competitor in the market is using the TLC it has with the northern country to increase sales of agricultural products, textiles and other manufactured goods.
The reduction in sales of Colombian oil to the United States is forcing the South American country to diversify its exports to the North American market, where positioning has been improved mainly of agricultural products such as fruits and seeds and manufactured goods such as textiles and apparel.
The U.S. market has once again become significant for the Guatemalan furniture and wood industry.
Until last June sales of furniture and forest products to the U.S. market represented 28% of total exports of the sector, by the end of 2013 sales are expected to exceed $100 million.
The information was released at the opening of the 26th edition of Expomueble, an event which "brings together all of the producers in the furniture and forest products sectors in Guatemala in an area of over 8 thousand square meters of exhibitions", reported Estrategiaynegocios.net.
Market studies reveal great opportunities in the U.S. market for ready to consume tilapia fillets.
From an article by the Costa Rican Trade Promotion Office (PROCOMER):
Fresh tilapia fillets which are ready to prepare became today the most important choice for the farmers in the Department of Huila in Colombia, when competing in the world market.
The cause is a contraction in consumption in major markets for Guatemalan exports, mainly sugar, coffee and rubber.
This is mainly due to international market stagnation and decline in prices of commodities such as sugar and coffee. "Among these markets is the U.S., the country's main trading partner. According to statistics from the Bank of Guatemala, during the first three months of the year $1.016 billion was exported to this country, showing a decrease of 2.4% compared to the $1.041 billion recorded last year, ie a loss of $24.5 million," noted an article in Elperiodico.gt.
Since the entry into force in 2006 of the DR-CAFTA, the tip in favor of the U.S. in the trade balance has multiplied by 5.
"The Central America to which President Barack Obama is coming to visit on on Friday is a region that maintains multiple communication vessels with the United States, including a growing trade relationship which in 2012 amounted to $40 billion, although very much in favor of the American power," reported Prensa.com.
Before the end of April, the Philippines will be sending its first shipment of three thousand tons of Cavendish bananas to the United States.
From an article by the Costa Rican Trade Promotion Office (PROCOMER):
The Philippine government said on Monday that the first shipment of 3,000 tons of Cavendish bananas bound for the United States will finally be sent before the end of April.
Using first world technology and management the Panamanian company Veggie Fresh Invest will be sending two containers a week of hydroponically produced peppers to the U.S..
"I would say we did things as they should be done, which is a little opposite to how traditional farmers do things: first plant and then look for the customer," said the entrepreneur Guillermo Villarreal, owner of the company.
In U.S. restaurants tropical fruits at are fast becoming favorites.
A statement from the Costa Rican Foreign Trade Promotion Office (PROCOMER) reads:
Restaurant chains in the U.S. demand more tropical fruits
The tropical fruit category is fast becoming a favorite in the food service chain in the U.S., "we are seeing tropical products, including mangos, becoming increasingly popular in the food operations sector", explained Charlie Eagle, vice president of the business development company Southern Specialties Inc.
After a tough first semester 2012, which saw a significantly decline in orders from the main market of the Guatemalan textile industry, the recovery began in June.
According to an article in Prensalibre.com the manager of the Garment and Textile Committee (Vestex) of Agexport, Alejandro Ceballos, said that during the first five months of the year economic uncertainty in the U.S., high international prices of cotton, and problems caused by the implementation of the new Customs Act, meant that purchase orders steadily declined.
Textile exports to the United States reported at the end of 2011 an increase of 25%, with the largest exporter being Honduras, followed by El Salvador.
Marisa Mont, a technician at the Economic Integration Secretariat, outlined the results, "Recovery begins from 2010 and is growing exponentially. This demonstrates an upward trend and that clearly is going to continue, although it is probably not going to keep growing by 25%, but it is an uptrend.
Regional exporters of fresh food products to the United States must renew their registration with the FDA between October 1 and December 31.
A statement from PROCOMER reads:
Costa Rican exporters must renew their registration with the U.S. FDA
Costa Rican exporters of food and fresh produce as well as other countries whose products are destined for the U.S., must renew their registration with the FDA as part of the measures included in the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), adopted earlier this year to improve the safety of food consumed in this country.
Many Central American exports to the Northern country will be affected by the increased competitiveness of Colombian products.
The entry into force of an FTA between Colombia and the USA brings new challenges to many economic sectors in Costa Rica and other Central American countries who will now competing with Colombian products in the same entering in the duty-free category.
Unilever, which owns the Lizano line, will be selling products in these new markets, the first ones outside of Central America.
California, Texas, New York and Florida will be the first U.S. states where Lizano sauces will be sold in local stores.
"According to Marcelo Rosatto, the company’s vice president of food marketing for the region, the plan is to penetrate the so-called "nostalgia market", which is made up of people in the country looking for Hispanic products," reported Elfinancierocr.com .
The export of furniture and wood products from Guatemala shows a growth of 25% from January to March 2012.
An improved U.S. economy is proving positive for the timber sector in Guatemala. The growth of exports from January to March 2012, is equivalent to $21 million.
"Ivar Pérez, Executive at the Furniture Manufacturers Committee (Cofama) of the Guatemalan Exporters' Guild and president of Muebles Sinai, agreed that the reactivation of the U.S.