In 2019 and 2020, Brazilian companies were the main suppliers of water heaters in the Central American market, since in both years they cornered more than 30% of total regional imports.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graph"]
Last year, Guatemala was the only market in the region where washing machine imports increased, the remaining five countries decreased their foreign purchases, with El Salvador reporting the worst drop.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graphic"].
During 2020, imports of electrical wires and cables in Nicaragua and Guatemala increased in year-on-year terms, and in the cases of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras and Panama they decreased considerably.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graphic"].
In recent years Chinese water heaters have gained importance in terms of the amount purchased, since from January to September 2012 they represented 12% of total Central American imports and for the same period of 2020 the proportion rose to 18%.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graphic"].
In recent years’ Brazilian water heaters have gained importance in terms of the amount purchased, as in the first half of 2014 they represented 14% of total Central American imports and for the same period of 2020 the proportion rose to 31%.
Figures from CentralAmericaData's Trade Intelligence Area: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graphic"].
In recent years refrigerators and freezers from China have gained importance in terms of the amount purchased, as in the first half of 2012 represented 7% of total regional imports and for the same period of 2020 the proportion rose to 28%.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Area of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graphic"].
From January to July 2020, Central American companies imported $149 million in wire and cable from Mexico, 24% less than in the same period in 2019, a drop that is explained by the decrease in purchases in all markets in the region.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphic"]
From January to March 2020, Central American companies imported $22 million in electrical cables and wires, and purchases from China increased by 13% compared to the same period in 2019.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphic"]
During the first three months of last year the main buyers of air conditioning equipment in Central America were Panama and Honduras, with $22 million each, followed by Costa Rica, with $21 million, Guatemala, with $11 million, El Salvador, with $10 million and Nicaragua, with $5 million.
Data from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graph"]
From January to April 2020, companies in Central America imported $106 million of electrical wire and cable from Mexico, and 62% of the total was purchased by companies in Nicaragua and Honduras.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphic"]
Distribuidora Granada S.A., Hussmann El Salvador, Molinos de Nicaragua S.A. and Sol Orgánica S.A., are some of the companies involved in the refrigeration equipment import business in Central America.
The market study "Refrigeration Equipment Market Study in Central America and the Dominican Republic", prepared by the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData, details the main figures of the business of importing this type of equipment.
From January to September 2019, companies in the region allocated $44 million to the import of video cameras, 8% less than in the same period in 2018, with Nicaragua and Costa Rica being the markets where purchases decreased the most.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphics"]
In Central America, it is estimated that Operadora de Tiendas, Corporación de Supermercados Unidos, Pricesmart de Panama and Moderna Electronics account for about 10% of total imports of blenders and their parts.
A study by CentralAmericaData's Trade Intelligence Unit shows that GMG Comercial from Guatemala and Costa Rica, and Comercializadora Panamericana are other companies that have a considerable share of the Central American blender market.
In Central America, it is estimated that Mabe, Panafoto, Elektra Guatemala, El Gallo mas Gallo de Alajuela, GMG Comercial and Corporación de Supermercados Unidos, account for about 16% of total imports of microwave and electric ovens.
A study by the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData indicates that Distribuidora Electrónica, Whirpool Guatemala and Operadoras de Tiendas S.A., are other companies that have a considerable share in the Central American market for electric ovens.
From January to September 2019, companies in the region bought air conditioning equipment abroad for $138 million, and imports by Honduran companies increased 22% compared to the same period in 2018.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphics"]