During the first six months of 2013 foreign sales totaled $2.822 billion, $151 million more than in the same period in 2012.
From a press release issued by the Central Reserve Bank of El Salvador:
Total exports to June of this year amounted to $2822.2 million, up $150.6 million compared to the same period in 2012, the growth rate was 5.6% per year, with a gradual recovering its dynamism, informed the Office of Economic Studies and Statistics of the Central Reserve Bank of El Salvador.
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.
The use of air transport for exports of tilapia, fruits, vegetables and ornamental plants grew by 15% compared those in 2012.
The continued interest of countries in Europe, in addition to the traditional markets of the U.S. and Mexico, has led to increased Honduran exports.
Miguel Sierra, an official at the airport cargo terminal Ramón Villeda Morales, said that the situation has improved external reach, as previously these products were exported by sea.
With the entry into force seven years ago of the Free Trade Agreement with U.S., Nicaragua's exports to the country have increased by 133%.
The country has become more attractive to investors, it sectors have become technical and Nicaraguan small and medium enterprises have managed to benefit from technical assistance programs.
The products that have been favored the most by the FTA signed by Central America and the Dominican Republic are green coffee, meat, seafood, sugar, textiles and cheese.
FOB exports of general goods registered growth of 10.5%, while CIF imports of general merchandise increased by 5.4%.
Summary of the Report on General Merchandise Foreign Trade, by the Central Bank of Honduras:
FOB exports of general goods recorded a growth of 10.5% in December 2012, attributed to an increase of $305 million in exports of non-traditional products and $113.3 million in traditional products.
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.
Tilapia exports to Europe and the U.S. increased by five percent in the first half of the year.
The increase is of about nine million pounds, representing $30 million in foreign exchange.
Orlando Delgado, manager of the company Aqua Finca Saint Peter Fish also noted that there has been an increase in exports to Mexico.
With respect to Honduras’ main competitor in the export of tilapia, Ecuador, the executive added to Latribuna.hn that "with our flagship product, tilapia filet, we are serving Mexico in an important way."
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.
In September, clothing and textile sales to the U.S. grew 18% over the same period in 2009.
According to the Central Bank of Guatemala, total exports amounted to $1.07 billion in clothing and fabrics, or $168.2 million more than last year.
"According to Garment and Textile Committee, Guatemala has specialized in sales of knit shirts and synthetic clothing for ladies and gentlemen as well as canvas pants," writes Prensalibre.com.
$6 million were exported in the first half of the year, some 4.5 million kilograms more than the same period of 2008.
In the 2009 mango season, 86% of the exports went to Europe and the remaining 13% to the United States.
"Despite the phytosanitary barriers, the fruit complies with sanitary requirements, and there hasn't been any interception nor fumigation at ports of entry", commented Magda González, spokesperson from the State's Phytosanitary Service, in an article in Nacion.com. "Mango complies with all innocuousness requirements", she said.
The amount exported in 2008 to US and European markets was 15,200 tons and 16 thousand tons are expected for this year.
Mangoes, together with melons and papaya are among the most sought-after fruit abroad.
SigloXXI.com reported statements by the chairman of the Mango Committee of the Guatemalan Association of Exporters (Agexport), Eddy Martínez: "There are 6 thousand hectares planted with export product and it is growing annually by about 400 hectares. Mango is one of the non-traditional crops whose exports have also increased in terms of production plants."
At the closing of 2008, the value of exports totaled $383.8 million, the highest value of the current decade.
LaPrensahn.com publishes: "The volume exported also was the highest of the decade, since they put to market 30.3 million cases, 600, 000 more than the prior year. Executives of the Standard Fruit Company and the Tela Railroad Company said that their expectations are to maintain the statistical figures reported during 2008."
After the signing of the Authorization Protocol between the two countries, local producers project an increase of 7.5% in sales.
Prensalibre.com reports: "The protocol, which was approved by the Ministries of Agriculture in both countries, will regulate the procedures for the processing of said fruit, in order to maintain phytosanitary control, as well as certifying the packers and verifying the quarantine process to which the product is subjected.
Despite the contraction of the American economy, Salvadoran sales to said market continue to grow.
According to the Department of Economic Studies and Statistics of the Central Reserve Bank of El Salvador (BCR), exports to the United States increased 9.8% during the third quarter of the year in relation to the same period in the previous year, while sales to Central America grew 27.3% annually.