After the sanitary protocol to sell meat to China came into effect and the industrial plants in Costa Rica were certified, the Central American country's sales to the Asian giant doubled between 2018 and 2019.
Figures from the Foreign Trade Promotion Agency (Procomer) show that in 2018 beef sales to China reached $22 million, while in 2019 they doubled to $57 million.
As in the case of Panama, Chinese authorities gave their endorsement for the processing plants Porcina Americana and Carnes Zamora to start selling pork products to the Asian giant from January 2020.
Following the authorization granted by the Asian country, pig farmers predict a strong impact on employment generation in rural sectors where most pig farms are located, reported the National Animal Health Service of Costa Rica (Senasa).
From January to March 2019, the countries of the region reported $154 million in sales of beef abroad, and exports to Puerto Rico grew 12% over the same period in 2017.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAPHIC caption="Click to interact with graphic"]
Between 2012 and 2016 imports of beef in the country doubled, going from $24 million to $50 million, while in the same period local cattle slaughter fell by 17%.
Figures from the Livestock Development Corporation (CORFOGA) indicate that consumption of imported beef has grown steadily in recent years. In 2010 the country imported 4,731 tons, while in 2016 the figure was 9,406 tons.
In recent years dairy imports increased by between 20% and 30% a year, since China can not meet domestic demand with its own production.
From an article by the Costa Rican Foreign Trade Promotion Office (PROCOMER):
Growing demand for dairy products in China, at present, not can not be met by domestic production, therefore it will remain a major importer of dairy products internationally.
Two containers holding skimmed, semi skimmed, whole milk and flavored milk will arrive in the next few days in Guangzhou, Beijing and Chongqing.
A press release from the Costa Rican Foreign Trade Promotion Office (Procomer) reads:
After a process that was marked by the adoption of protocols, training, market visits and a lot of monitoring by the parties involved, Costa Rica has finally make its first export of dairy products to China.
It has been projected that in 2013 global beef exports will grow by 7.6%, approaching 9 million tons.
From an article by the Costa Rican Trade Promotion Office (PROCOMER):
Projections for 2013 indicate that the expansion of international trade of beef will continue, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), world beef exports will grow by 7.6% and will be located around 9 million tons.
Panamanian food authorities have given permission for six facilities to export Uruguayan dairy to that market.
From an article by the Costa Rican Trade Promotion Office (PROCOMER):
On Wednesday May 22 this year, both the General Director of the Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries of Uruguay (MGAP) Alberto Castelar, and the Director of the International Affairs Unit Alejandro Mernies of the same ministry announced a new breakthrough in international integration as part of the Government's strategic guidelines in market diversification.This news was that Panamanian food safety authorities have given permission for six facilities to export Uruguayan bovine dairy products to that market.
The Costa Rican and Chinese Technical Teams met to begin negotiations to expand the supply of agricultural products from the Central American country.
"The delegations were led by the Costa Rican Minister of Agriculture, Gloria Abraham, and Chinese Vice Minister Sun Dawei, General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of PRC (AQSIQ, by its acronym in English)" , reported Elfinancierocr.com.
A proposal has been made in to parliament for a new law creating a central body to control, eradicate and manage pests and diseases in plants and animals in the country.
From an article by the Costa Rican Trade Promotion Office (PROCOMER):
The Indian Agriculture Minister, Sarad Pawar, sent a new law to the parliament of his country, which will create a central agency, the Agricultural Biosecurity Authority of India (ABAI), in order to predict, control, eradicate and manage pests and diseases in plants and animals.
In light of an announcement by the Guatemalan government that they are looking for more beef suppliers, Colombia is making preparations.
From an article by the Costa Rican Trade Promotion Office (PROCOMER):
The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food in Guatemala (MAGA) reported that it will be evaluating new suppliers in light of a possible meat shortage caused by an increase in prices in the country.
The drastic decrease in the number of livestock has generated a significant increase in imports of cattle in order to satisfy the demand for beef.
Information from the Foreign Trade Promotion Office (Procomer), reveals that in 2012, Costa Rica imported 11 times more live cattle than in 2011.
Erick Quirós, senior director of regional operations at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG), said that this drop in the number cattle is a consequence of the crisis of 2009 and the impact of climate change.
Sanitary certification of slaughterhouses in Panama could take three years, therefor Panamanian farmers are planning to export beef to the United States via Costa Rica.
Senior U.S. government officials have warned the livestock sector of Panama that obtaining medical records and certificates of origin which are required in order to be able to export to their country, could take at least three years.
Following a lengthy certification process, China has opened up to beef imports from Costa Rica, but farmers say they don’t have enough production.
In a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Trade of Costa Rica (COMEX) it was announced that "The authorities of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of China (AQSIQ) reported that Costa Rica has been officially included in the list of countries with authorization to export beef to China .... the opening up of China for the export of frozen beef meat is the result of intensive work by the National Animal Health Service, in close collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Trade of Costa Rica (COMEX) and the Foreign Trade Promotion Office (PROCOMER) to achieve compliance with the requirements for signing the SPS protocols that allow access of Costa Rican agricultural products to the Chinese market. "
In light of the presence of residues of the antiparasitic drug ivermectin, Costa Rican health authorities have suspended permits for Panamanian ranchers.
José Pablo Solis, president of the National Cattlemen's Association (Anagan), said the health protocols for countries in the region establish that cattle should be free of such residues which are considered toxic to human health.