From January to September 2020, Central American wine imports totaled $47 million, and regional purchases from German companies increased 7% compared to the same period in 2019.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graphic"]
From January to June 2020, regional beer imports totaled $83 million, 24% less than what was reported for the same period in 2019, with Guatemala and Panama being the markets that registered the most significant drops.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphic"]
In recent years’ Spanish wines have gained importance according to the amount purchased, since in the first half of 2012 they represented 10% of total regional imports and for the same period in 2020 the proportion rose to 23%.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graph"]
From January to March 2020, beer imports in Central America totaled $56 million, 5% less than what was reported for the same period in 2019, with Guatemala and Honduras being the markets that registered the most significant drops.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Area of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphic"]
In the first six months of 2019, Central American countries imported $38 million in wine, and purchases from Chilean companies increased by 11% over the same period in 2018.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphics"]
In the first six months of last year, countries in the region imported $38 million in wine, 17% more than in the same period in 2017, a rise caused by purchases from Chile and Spain.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphic"]
During the first three months of the year, the countries of the region reported imports of alcoholic beverages for $88 million, 25% more than what was reported in the same quarter of 2017.
Figures from the information system on the Alcoholic Beverage Market in Central America, from the Commercial Intelligence Area of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Clic to view chart"]
In 2017, countries in the region recorded imports of alcoholic beverages totalling $334 million, which is an increase of 3% compared to the figures reported in 2016.
Figures from the information system on the Alcoholic Beverages Market in Central America, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with graph"]
Between January and September 2016 Central American countries together imported $203 million worth of alcoholic beverages, 6% more than in the same period last year.
Data from a report entitled 'Alcoholic Beverages Market in Central America',presented by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [Figure caption = "Click to interact with graphics"]
The trade association agreement between Central America and Europe means a reduction in import tariffs on alcoholic beverages.
With the entry into force of the Agreement between Europe and Central America (CAAA) comes a reduction in import costs, which in the case of champagne is a cut of 15%.
According to Javier Abreu, company representative of Vinos & Destilados in Costa Rica, this allows for a decrease in consumer prices of between 15% and 30% for brands such as Bonpas and Thorin (French wines) , Rioja Bordon and Diamante (Spanish wines) and Bombay Sapphire and Botanic (gin). A bottle of Moët & Chandon, for example, went from $95 to $63."
In the last four years exports of distilled spirits and ethyl alcohol to Europe have tripled.
Improvements in both the quality and productivity have allowed Costa Rican companies to increase their presence not only in America but also in Europe.
Elfinancierocr.com reports: "Interestingly, on the website of Economics Trading Indicators - used as a reference by the Costa Rican Oil Refinery (Recope) - it states that the international prices of ethanol (ethyl alcohol) decreased 16.6 % in the last 12 months " . This means that despite the drop in prices, Costa Rican exports increased.
Nicaraguan companies returned from the Sial food fair with orders for meat and liquor worth $8 million.
Elnuevodiario.com.ni reports that Roberto Brenes, general manager of the Center for Exports and Imports (CEI), reported that "Nicaragua achieved sales of meat and liquor worth $8 million at the Sial food fair, the most important in the world, which took place from 21 to 25 October in Paris, France. "
The companies engaged in importing and distributing fine liquors have indicate that the high tariffs on these products are encouraging smuggling.
An article in Siglo21.com.gt quotes the president of Distribuidora Alcazarén, Mariano Vadillo Portabella, who said: "the problem is so severe, that there are smugglers do not even need to use front companies to break the law, but go from person to person making individual visits to offer their products at very low costs, although with risks to consumer health, as the products do not meet the relevant standards and may have been tampered with".
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