Because Mexico is the third largest Latin American country in terms of area devoted to organic agricultural production, there are multiple opportunities to market inputs for this sector.
In terms of the number of hectares planted with organic crops, Michoacan, Chiapas and Oaxaca are the states that have 68% of the total planted nationally, according to an analysis prepared by Costa Rica's Foreign Trade Promotion Agency (Procomer).
Between January and March 2020, Central America allocated $169 million to fertilizer imports, 10% less than in the same period in 2018, with Costa Rica, El Salvador and Guatemala being the markets that registered the most significant reductions.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graph"]
Because the Ecuadorian market is highly dependent on imports and its local industry is incipient, there are opportunities for bulk exports and packaging in the South American country.
To enter the market, products can be sold to distribution companies, whether these register the products themselves under their own brand, import in bulk/concentrate, repackage and distribute, or do so under the manufacturer's brand and import and distribute ready-to-retail products (this can be on an exclusive basis), explains a study by the Foreign Trade Promotion Agency (Procomer).
The government of El Salvador announced that it will invest $3 million in the delivery of 40,775 liters of fungicides and 30,000 liters of insecticides to combat and prevent the Coffee Rust and Coffee Borer.
In order to receive the inputs, coffee growers must meet several requirements, the most important of which is to be registered with the Salvadoran Coffee Council (CSC) and to have a valid identity card, informed the Ministry of Agriculture.
With the entry into force of the tax reform, banana production costs in Nicaragua have increased between 30% and 35%, because of the rise in the price of agrochemicals.
During 2018, companies in Central American countries imported insecticides, herbicides and fungicides for $671 million, 3% less than they bought in 2017.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphic"]
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The Directorate of Agricultural Science and Technology tenders the supply of fertilizers, bactericides, pH regulators and adherents, rooting agents, sterile substratum, fungicides, insecticides and herbicides.
Honduras Government Purchase DICTA-SAG-LP-002-2019:
"Agricultural inputs will be used for the healthy potato seed reproduction project in Honduras, DICTA / TAIWAN-ICDF.
The transnational UPL announced the acquisition of Industrias BioQuim Centroamericanas S.A., a company dedicated to the manufacture and commercialization of agrochemicals.
This acquisition, which was made through UPL Costa Rica S.A., is the first made by the transnational UPL in the region.
From January to September 2018, countries in the region imported $530 million worth of insecticides, herbicides and fungicides, and 46% were bought by companies in Guatemala and Costa Rica.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphics]
Guatemalan Foragro, manufacturer of insecticides, fungicides and herbicides, opened a branch in Panama and aims in the short term to position 50 products in the local market.
The company reported that for the opening of its branch in the Panamanian market invested $300,000 and that this would have a presence in all Central American countries, as they already operate in El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica.
Because of the dry season and the rise in temperature, Costa Rica expects an increase in pests in crops such as melon, watermelon, courgette, chili, tomato, beans and cucumbers, among others.
Authorities of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG) informed that the climatic conditions foreseen for the coming months are associated with the El Niño-Southern Oscillation phenomenon.
From January to June of this year, countries in the region imported insecticides, herbicides and fungicides for $343 million, 2% more than in the same period in 2017.
Figures from the information system of the Central American Insecticide, Herbicide and Fungicide Market, from the Trade Intelligence Area of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphic"]
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 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"]
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.