The complex economic and political situation that has affected Nicaragua since April continues to affect Central America, where exporters report losses of $45 million.
In the past months, cargo transport faced difficulties in moving goods along Nicaragua's highways due to demonstrators' blockades and insecurity, seriously affecting Central American companies.
Key information regarding the seasonality in the value of Central American trade in both the intra-regional and extra-regional markets.
Extracted from a report entitled "Seasonal patterns of trade in Central America: initial notes" issued by the Secretariat of Central American Economic Integration (SIECA):
Starting July 17th the categorization of products according to their health risk will be applied and a 15 day shipping notice will be required to import those labelled as "high risk."
A new "Directive on sanitation and phytosanitation for the facilitation of trade in goods and shipments in Central America", adopted by the Council of Ministers for Economic Integration (Comieco), approved in January and which will come into effect from Thursday, July 17, could detract agility from intraregional trade, warns the Exporters Corporation of El Salvador (Coexport).
There is a requirement to avoid duplicate collection of customs duties levied on imports in order to meet the provisions of the trade pact with the European Union.
The Federation of Chambers and Industry Associations of Central America and the Dominican Republic are demanding that governments provide efficient management and eliminate obstacles to the movement of goods.
At the last meeting held in Panama the Chambers of Industry urged their governments to have greater efficiency in customs procedures for trade in goods in Latin America.
Instead of being reduced, bureaucracy at the Central American borders is becoming increasingly burdensome, complicating and making intra regional trade more expensive.
Constant delays which increase transportation costs, lack of progress in the streamlining of customs procedures and a perceived stagnation of the customs and economic integration project are the most pressing problems observed by business associations in Central America.
Central American trade grew by 21.8% during the period January to August 2011, equivalent to $54,249.2 million.
Executive Summary of the Monthly Statistical Bulletin by the Central American Economic Integration Secretariat January-August 2011:
Trade (exports/imports) in Central America showed an increase of 21.8% accumulated during the period January to August 2011, equivalent to U.S. $54249.2 million. This exchange was strongly driven by the growth observed in Honduras (36.4%), Guatemala (23.9%) and El Salvador (22.8%). However, Costa Rica had the greatest weight on the total trade of the region (31.4%), followed by Guatemala (26.8%).
The customs offices of Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras and El Salvador have been interconnected using the Integrated Foreign Trade System (SICEX by its initials in Spanish) since June.
The system aids export companies in reducing time and costs, by digitalizing the process of customs authorisation.
After a 18.4% fall in 2009, 2010 closed with an 8.6% increase.
According to information from the Central American Economic Integration Department (SIEC), 2008 figures show a total of $ 6,412 million in 2009, down from the 18.4% closing at $ 5,274 million.
"...commercial integration between the CA countries could be considered the most advanced of all projects of the Central American integration framework," Sigloxxi.com reported.
Exports totaled $ 5.764 million in 2010, a 9% increase compared to 2009.
According to the Central American Economic Integration Department (SIEC), the growth in exports between the Common Market Countries (CACM), consisting of Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica is not sufficient to recover from the 18.6% fall suffered in 2009.
This first unification of regulations will benefit the export sector of food and medicine industry.
The signing of the agreement to unify technical regulations will be held next Monday and will then be submitted for review to the countries of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Regional trade statistics (totals, in the Central American Common Market, and the rest of the world).
SIECA, the Secretariat for Central American Economic Integration, published a report called “Central America: Trade 2005-2009”, with trade statistics for the region.
Trade between Central American countries decreased 17% in the first third of 2009, when compared to the same period of 2008.
According to data from the Central American Economic Integration Secretary, exports between the countries of the region reached $1.74 billion, $356 million less than the first third of 2008 ($2.1 billion).
Of the total exports by the region, 29% goes to the countries that comprise it, reaching $6.403 billion at the end of 2008.
This figure is slightly above the average of 27.7% observed over the past five years.
The major exporters within the region are Guatemala, which has concentrated at least 33% of the average for the past four years, followed by El Salvador with 24%, Costa Rica with 23% and Honduras and Nicaragua added 20%.
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