The agricultural chemical union of Guatemala states that the illicit commercialization of fertilizers, insecticides and fungicides, represents about 12% of the local market.
According to reports from the Association of the Agricultural Chemical Guild (Agrequima), between August 2016 and the same month in 2018, a investigation of agrochemical packaging was carried out in the union's collection centers, in which several products were identified which did not possess the minimum quality requirements.
In Nicaragua, a decrease in the amount of cultivated land and a decrease in fertilization spending have caused a fall of between 25% and 30% in the sales projected by entrepreneurs in the sector.
According to figures from the Central Bank of Nicaragua, between the first half of 2017 and the same period in 2018, imports of fertilizers and agrochemicals in the country reported a reduction of 14%, falling from $102 million to $88 million.
From January to March of this year, countries in the region imported $146 million worth of insecticides, herbicides and fungicides, 6% more than in the same period in 2017.
Figures from the information system on the Market for Insecticides, Herbicides and Fungicides in Central America, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption= "Click to interact with graph"]
In the first quarter of 2018, companies in the country imported $34 million worth of fertilizers, and purchases in Russia totaled $12 million, 45% more than in the same period in 2017.
Figures from the information system on the Fertilizer Market in Costa Rica, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with graph"]
The average price per kilo of fertilizers imported by the Central American countries dropped from $0.54 in January 2012 to $0.27 in March 2018, registering a 50% drop.
Figures from the information system on the Central American Fertilizer Market, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with the graph"]
After four years of registering reductions in purchases of fertilizer from abroad, in 2017 the country imported $146 million worth, 20% more than was reported in 2016.
Figures from the information system on the Central American Fertilizer Market, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with the graph"]
Although businessmen in the sector claim to have enough supplies to meet demand in the agricultural cycle, the crisis in Nicaragua is causing problems in the transportation of goods.
Distributors of agrochemicals report that due to the political crisis and the multiple closures and demonstrations on roads in the country, the main challenge they face is the transporting products to different areas of the country.
In 2017, the total import value of insecticides, herbicides and fungicides in Central American countries totaled $689 million, registering a 3% increase with respect to 2016.
Figures from the information system on the Market for Insecticides, Herbicides and Fungicides in Central America, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with graph"]
In 2017, purchases from Central American countries totaled $759 million, 25% more than the previous year's imports, in contrast to the fall reported between 2015 and 2016.
Figures from the information system on the Central American Fertilizer Market, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with the graph"]
In 2017, countries in Central America imported $18 million worth of fertilizers from Mexico, a figure which is 61% more than what was purchased in 2016.
Figures from the information system on the the Fertilizer Market in Central America, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with graph"]
Due to atypical purchases made from Finland and Latvia during the first half of 2017, fertilizers imports totaled $93 million, 46% more than in the same period in 2016.
Figures from the information system on the the Market for Fertilizers in Honduras, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with graph"]
In the first semester of 2017, Central American countries imported $439 million worth of fertilizer, 42% more than in the same period in 2016.
Figures from the information system on the Fertilizer Market in Central America, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with the graph"]
In 2016, Costa Rica imported $142 million worth of fertilizers, 23% less than the $183 million worth imported in 2015.
Figures from the information system on the the Fertilizer Market in Costa Rica, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with the graph"]
American Vanguard Corporation has announced the acquisition of Grupo Agricenter, dedicated to the production and commercialization of crop protection products in Central America.
From a statement issued by Agricenter:
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--American Vanguard Corporation (NYSE:AVD) announced today that its wholly owned subsidiary AMVAC Netherlands BV, will acquire Grupo Agricenter to reinforce its commercial, technical and development structure in the Latin-American region. AMVAC has been a key player in the Latin American agricultural sector for more than a decade and has become a leader in the nematicides segment for crops such as banana and pineapple. The acquisition of Grupo Agricenter, a well-established distributor of multiple crop protection products in seven Central American and Caribbean countries, will considerably expand AMVAC’s product and service offerings in the region.
In the last five years, the average price of a kilo of fertilizers imported in the countries in the region fell by 43%, going from $0.54 to $0.31.
Figures from the information system on thethe fertilizer market in Central America, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit atCentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with the graph"]