As of October this year, the U.S. country will begin one of the phases of implementation of the new front labeling on food and non-alcoholic beverages, under the Labeling Law NOM-051 of the Ministry of Health.
One of the arguments that support the amendments to the Standard is the situation of health and welfare of citizens in the country. According to data from the National Health and Nutrition Survey (ENSANUT) 2018 (to date, the latest report released), 35.6% of children between 5 and 11 years old are overweight and obese. Meanwhile, children and young people between 12 and 19 years old report 38.4%, according to the Guatemalan Association of Exporters (Agexport).
Alimentos y Bebidas Atlántida in Guatemala, Mayca in Costa Rica and Nestlé Panama, are part of the companies reporting the highest numbers of purchases of food preparations in Central America.
An analysis of CentralAmericaData's Trade Intelligence unit provides details on the companies according to sector, main activity, volume and value of their imports, exports and other relevant data.
Petroleum products, iron and steel, food and pharmaceutical products, headed last year's purchases from companies in the South American nation from Central American countries.
Figures from the Central American-Ecuador Trade Information System complied by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAPHIC caption = "Click to interact with the graph"]
Last year, vehicles, tractors, food and pharmaceutical products led the purchases made from companies in the South American nation from Central American countries.
Figures from the information system of the Trade between Central America and Brazil, from the Trade Intelligence Area of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphic"]
Last year, mineral fuels, plastic articles and food led the commercial exchange between Peruvian and Central American companies.
Figures from the Central American-Peru Trade Information System complied by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAPHIC caption = "Click to interact with the graph"]
Plastic articles, pharmaceutical products and food preparations last year led the commercial exchange between companies from the Caribbean nation and Central American countries.
Figures from the information system of Commerce between Central America and the Dominican Republic, compiled by the Trade Intelligence Area of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphic"]
During the first six months of the year, countries in the region imported animal feed preparations for $254 million, 20% more than in the same period in 2017.
Figures from the information system on the Animal Feed Preparations Market in Central America, compiled by the Trade Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphic"]
From July 30 to August 1, a business meeting will take place between business leaders in the region and Chilean companies from the forestry, agriculture, manufacturing and seafood sectors.
From a press release by ProChile:
The event will be held in Guatemala City, between July 30 and August 1, and will bring together about 120 buyers from all over the region.In total, there will be 60 places for Chilean entrepreneurs in the forestry and agricultural sector, industry-manufactures and seafood.
In Guatemala, a workshop to train professionals from the Central American region on the use of the Regional Integration System for Health Registries is being organized for June 18.
From a statement issued by the Sieca:
The Center for Studies for Economic Integration (CEIE) at the Central American Economic Integration Secretariat (SIECA) is organizing a workshop to train professionals from the Central American region on the use of the Regional Integration System for Health Registries (SIRRS).The objective is to promote the use of the IT platform and train personnel in the private sector in its use and exploitation.
On April 27 a business meeting will take place in San Jose between Costa Rican businessmen and representatives of the industry of cookies, food doughs, breads and cakes from Brazil.
The business conference will take place on Friday, April 27, from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm at the Crowne Corobicí Hotel and is being organized by Crecex in conjunction with the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (APEX-Brazil) and the Brazilian Association of the Industries of Biscuits, Food Flours and Breads and Cakes (Abimapi).
While sales to other regions grew by around 15% between 2012 and 2017, exports to Central American countries show an increase of almost 30% compared to the same period.
Data from Procomer indicates that"...The value of sales by this industry to Central America rose by 28% when comparing the amount accumulated from January to July 2012 with the same period in 2017.Meanwhile, sales to all regions increased by 15%."
Between July 2016 and June 2017, exports of precision and medical equipment, rubber, agricultural products, and metallurgical products increased by 15%, 8%, 7% and 23%, respectively, compared to the previous 12 months.
The sectors that showed the most notable growth in exports (July 2016 - June 2017 vs. July 2015 - June 2016) were precision and medical equipment, with an increase of US $347 million (+ 14.7%); the agricultural sector, which has continued to improve its performance after unfavorable climatic events in previous periods and showed an increase of US $193 million (+ 7.6%); metalmechanics, which recorded increased sales, of US $72 million (+ 23.1%); the food industry, which sold US $41 million more (+ 4.4%); the electric and electronic sector, which increased by US $34 million (+ 6.4%); rubber which increased by US $19 million (+ 8.5%); and chemical-pharmaceuticals which sold US $15 million more (+ 2.4%).
Consumers of differentiated and healthy food are looking for experiences, they are people who work longer and prioritize health and well-being.
From the study "Challenges and Opportunities for the Supply of Differentiated Food" of by Procomer of Costa Rica:
Executive Summary The Costa Rican food industry has evolved in the last 10 years and is showing an average annual growth of 5%, but this dynamism has been mainly due to an increase in the amount exported and not so much because products have greater added value.Meanwhile, global trends in the food industry point to the development of differentiated, natural, autochthonous and sustainable food options. By 2016, 34% of global packaged food sales fell into the category of health and wellness, with options such as fortified, organic, natural, free from [a particular ingredient] or those targeted at intolerant consumers.
Characteristics of consumers on the west coast of Canada and the marketing channels in the area are factors representing opportunities for exporting healthy products.
From a report entitled "Differentiated Food on the west coast of Canada" by PROCOMER Costa Rica:
The west coast of Canada offers opportunities for marketing products with distinct elements that provide health benefits related to things such as sporting lifestyles, helping with weight loss, natural products, products free of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) or that facilitate special diets such as gluten-free products.
In 2015 the region as a whole imported $96 million worth of processed meat, led by El Salvador, which imported $25 million, followed by Guatemala with $22 million, and Honduras, with $16 million.
Figures onForeign Trade in Sausages Meat and Similar Products in Central America,analyzed by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData.com show that in 2015 the countries of Central America imported 33,528 tons of processed meat, equivalent to $96 million.