During the third quarter of 2021, an increase of 22 % was observed, reaching $640 million in exports of fresh, refrigerated and frozen beef, however, in volume it only represented a 2 percent increase, reaching 125,448 tons.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graphic"]
Because Panama lacks the certifications required by the U.S. country, authorities of that country are analyzing the possibility of exporting through certification in a laboratory in Honduras.
According to the authorities of the Ministry of Agricultural Development (MIDA), the U.S. authorities agree that Panama should certify the quality of the meat through analysis by Honduran laboratories.
Because Guatemalan authorities have not yet completed the health control program, local producers cannot export live cattle to Mexico, where they could sell between 10,000 and 15,000 head a month.
For Guatemalan cattle ranchers, Southern Mexico is an attractive market, because there is interest on the part of Mexican businessmen to buy standing cattle at better prices than those quoted in Guatemala.
In Panama, the processing plant Union Livestock received the endorsement to market beef in the Asian country, and it is expected that the first containers will be shipped in late April.
At the end of last year, it was reported that the meat product plants that received the endorsement by the General Administration of Customs of China to start selling their products to the Asian giant were Matadero de Chiriquí, S.A.
Although exports have tripled in the last three years, mainly because of increased sales of medical equipment, sugar, ethyl alcohol and meat, the business sector's expectations are not as optimistic.
Data from the Foreign Trade Promoter (Procomer) specify that in 2016 Costa Rican exports to China totaled $46 million, in 2017 registered $111 million, and in 2018 rose to $200 million.
After the approval of three beef processing plants in Panama by the Chinese authorities, it is expected that in the first months of 2019 the Central American country will begin to export its products.
The meat products plants which received the endorsement by the General Administration of Customs of China to start selling their products to the Asian giant were Matadero de Chiriquí, S.A. (Machisa), Unión Ganadera, S.A. (Ungasa) and Macello.
Starting from June 30, 2018 products such as stomach, intestines and bladders from Nicaragua may enter the Asian country duty free.
From a statement issued by the Embassy of Taiwan in Nicaragua:
Managua, Wednesday, June 27, 2018.Under the provisions of the Second Free Trade Meeting of the current FTA between Taiwan and Nicaragua, as of June 30, 2018, Decision No. 6 will enter into force, which establishes that Taiwan can import the following bovine products tariff-free: stomach, intestines and bladders, from Nicaragua.
Through the treaty the Israeli market will have preferential access to Panamanian products such as vinegar, coffee, palm oil, beef, cassava, flour and beer, among other things.
The Panamanian government reported that "...In the framework of a meeting between the president of Panama, Juan Carlos Varela and the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, a Free Trade Agreement and a Memorandum of Understanding on agricultural matters was signed."
Empacadora Agroindustrias Del Corral has been authorized to export fresh, chilled or frozen beef to the Asian nation.
From a statement issued by the National Service for Agrifood Health and Safety:
February 1, 2018. - Through an official note, authorities at the National Service of Food Safety and Health (SENASA) received notification of the approval from the Taiwanese authorities to import meat into the country.
The union of exporters estimates that between January and November of 2017 they have sold goods and services abroad worth $2.473 billion, 20% more than in the same period in 2016.
According to estimates by the Association of Producers and Exporters of Nicaragua (APEN) during the first 11 months of this year total exports added up to $2.47315 billion, these exceed by 20% the $2.05667 billion recorded in sales abroad in the same period in 2016
The new trade agreement increases the export quota of sugar to 60 thousand tons, and eliminates the export tariff of bovine offal to the Asian island.
Laprensa.com.ni explains that "...The expansion was agreed at a meeting between the delegations of the two diplomatic allies, headed by the general director of the BOFT, Yang Jenni, on the Taiwanese side, and his Nicaraguan counterpart, Cristian Martinez, held on Thursday."
In the last five years annual per capita consumption of pork in the countries of the region increased from 4.6 kilos in 2012 to 5.3 kilos in 2016, and growth was driven mainly by Panama and Costa Rica.
Between 2012 and 2016 regional pork consumption has maintained an upward trend, growing from 205 thousand tons in 2012 to 249 thousand tons in 2016, which is an increase of 21%.
Due to an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in the South American country, Honduras has tightened prevention and control measures at ports of entry such as ports and airports.
Latribuna.hn reports that "...The relevant measures are aimed at preventing the entry of the disease intothe national territory, and maintaining the current health status. In this context a warning has been given of the risks involved in importing live animals, products and by-products of bovine origin from that country."
The requirements for sanitation and traceability are preventing the livestock sector from taking advantage of quotas for meat exports duty free to Europe.
Although the Association Agreement between Central America and the European Union established a quota of 4,800 tonnes per year of rice and a quota of 1,533 tonnes per year of meat, which could enter Europe without incurring tariffs, neither sector has been able to take advantage of them completely.
Local entrepreneurs and US producers want to revive imports of lamb meat into Guatemala.
The goal of businessmen of both countries is to revive a market that until now has not been fully exploited, although since December 2013 rules have been in effect which must be complied with in order to register and certify sheep bred in the country.