Between August 2019 and December 2020, there was evidence of an upward trend in the average price of Central American frozen fruit exports, as it increased from $1.04 to $1.45 per kilo.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graphic"].
Despite the complications that affected international trade due to the covid-19 outbreak, in Costa Rica in 2020, imports of grapes and oranges increased, a rise that is explained by the preference of consumers for fruits containing vitamin C.
The Foreign Trade Report of the Agricultural Sector 2019-2020, prepared by the Executive Secretariat of Agricultural Sector Planning (SEPSA), details that last year imports of fresh oranges in the country amounted to $14.8 million, 38% more than what was reported in 2019.
Between August 2019 and June 2020, an upward trend was evident in the average price of Central American frozen fruit exports, as it increased from $1.04 to $1.45 per kilo.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graphic"].
In recent weeks in Central American countries, the volume of searches and conversations on the Internet associated with fruits and vegetables began to decrease, a downward trend that continued until mid-November.
Through a system that monitors in real time changes in consumer interests and preferences in Central American countries, developed by CentralAmericaData, it is possible to project short and long term demand trends for the different products, sectors and markets operating in the region.
Due to the possible change in the regulations established by the European Union on the use of agrochemicals in the production of the fruit that enters their territory, exporters in the region are on the alert for the possible complications that this would generate in the commercialization.
In order to protect the health of consumers, European authorities could vary the maximum residue limits (MRL's) that food entering the region may contain.
Berries, cherries and citrus fruits, fruits that due to their vitamin C content are generally associated with positive effects on the immune system, reported increases in sales in the US and European markets during March, April and May 2020.
In this context of new consumption habits, which emerged worldwide due to the outbreak of covid-19, banana sales (due to its high potassium content and its contributions to health) have been extremely positive.
The supply of processed fruits and vegetables by Chilean companies is largely complemented by inputs from other countries, with berries, apples, kiwis, peaches and uncooked vegetables being some of the most demanded products.
During 2019, Chilean imports of fruits and vegetables amounted to Ch$200 million, 54% preserved and 22% frozen, 19% juices and 6% purées and jellies, explains a study by the Chilean Foreign Trade Promotion Agency (Procomer).
Because the Asian giant is the world's largest buyer of fresh fruit and people are willing to consume new and tropical foods, the region's pineapple producers have the opportunity to increase their business with the Chinese market.
According to a study conducted by the Foreign Trade Promoter (Procomer), China remains one of the largest producers of fruit in the world, but quality remains a problem, so they are interested in imported fruit, added to consumers looking for better quality products as part of the search for a healthier lifestyle.
The drop in international prices and the climate difficulties were the main reasons for the 5% reduction in the value exported from Costa Rica last year compared to 2018.
Data from the Foreign Trade Promotion Agency (Procomer) show that between 2018 and 2019, exports of the fruit decreased from $983 million to $930 million, which is equivalent to a negative variation of 5%.
In recent years the downward trend in the average price of regional frozen fruit exports has not been reversed, as between June 2016 and September 2019 it fell from $1.60 to $1.14 per kilo.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphics"]
The Dr. Calderón Guardia Hospital tenders the supply of fresh or minimally processed fruits and vegetables, as well as pulp based on pasteurized fruits without sugar.
Costa Rica Government Purchase 2019LN-000011-2101:
"Some of the lines to hire:
-Creole banana
-Plums
-Gala apple
-Hybrid papaya
-Lemon mesino
-Portion of golden pineapple
-Pumpkin in pieces peeled
In the first three months of 2019, Central American countries exported $251 million worth of pineapple, and sales to Spanish companies increased 12% over the same period in 2018.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphic"]
The first foreign sale of the fruits was carried out by the company Melones de la Península, which sent 1,500 kilos to Europe by air and 10,000 kilos by sea.
After the organization Kiwa BCS Limitada granted the certification of organic product, in a first stage Melones de la Península exported 1,500 kilos during two weeks, by air, between both varieties (melon-yellow honey dew and watermelon-quetzali), as well as approximately 10 thousand kilos by sea in the same period.
In the first half of the year, countries in the region exported $51 million in frozen fruit, 11% less than in the same period in 2017.
Figures from the information system on the Frozen Fruit Market in Central America compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphic"]
During the first three months of the year countries in Central America sold $52 million worth of watermelons abroad, which is 20% more than what was exported in the same period in 2017.
Figures from the information system on the Fresh Watermelon Market in Central America, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData : [GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with graph"]