In the third quarter of 2021, the volume sold of metallic minerals in the Central American region reached 2,731,659 Tons with a value of $2,176 million, being Panama the main exporter with $2,032 with main destination to China.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graphic"]
Palm oil, food supplies, paper and cardboard, beef and zinc minerals and its concentrates are the main products that Central American companies sell to companies in Mexico.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphic"]
Exports of metalliferous minerals from Central America summed $33 million from January to March 2018, and sales to Belgium increased 229% compared to the same period in 2017.
Figures from the information system on the Metalliferous Minerals Market in Central America, from the Commercial Intelligence Area of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Clic to interact with chart"]
Adverse court decisions against companies, social and political conflicts and fiscal issues are some of the factors that are impeding the development of productive projects in Central American countries.
One of the latest court decisions affecting companies with investments in the region was that of Minera Petaquilla, in Panama. The contract that this company had signed with the Panamanian State was declared unconstitutional last week.
From January to September 2017, regional exports of metalliferous minerals totalled $59 million, 40% more than in the same period in 2016.
Figures from the information system on the the Metal Ores Market in Central America, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with the graph"]
In 2012 gold exports to Canada amounted to $377 million, equivalent to 54% of the total exported by the region that year, but four years later the figure has fallen to 0.
Figures of the information system on the Gold Market in Crude, Semi Wrought or Powder form in Central America, compiled by CentralAmericaData's Business Intelligence Unit: [GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with the graph"]
In 2016 Central American countries sold 713 thousand tons of metalliferous minerals abroad, equivalent to $61 million.
Figures from the information system on the the Metal Ores Market in Central America, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData : [GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with the graph"]
The company Oceana Gold has paid the $8 million it owed because of the international arbitration case it lost against the Salvadoran state and has announced that it has no plans to continue mining activities in the country.
With the payment of $8 million plus interest, an end has been brought to the litigation that began years ago between Pacifi Rim, now Oceana Gold, and the Salvadoran state.
From July 26 to 28, companies from the sector will be gathering together in Tegucigalpa to take part in business roundtables and conferences on sustainable mining, water and climate change.
The III edition of the international congress will be held in Tegucigalpa.
The thematic axes of the event are: geological and geophysical explorations, mining processes, software and technological advances, sustainable mining, water, climate change and extractive industries.
Between January and September 2016 the countries of the region exported 399 thousand tons of metalliferous minerals, led by Guatemala, with 375 thousand tons.
Figures from the information system on the the Metal Ores Market in Central America , compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Clic para interactuar con la gráfica"]
The Public Prosecutor's Office has frozen the company's property, vehicles and bank accounts, because it has not yet paid the $8 million plus interest owed from an international arbitration case which it lost to the Salvadoran State.
From a statement issued by the Attorney General of El Salvador:
The Attorney General of the Republic managed to freeze buildings, vehicles and bank accounts owned by the mining company Oceana Gold, formerly Pacific Rim, for non-payment of court costs to the State of El Salvador, under an international arbitration case initiated by the mining company with the International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), which it lost and in which it was ordered to pay eight million dollars for expenses incurred by the country.
The recently approved law prohibits exploration, extraction, exploitation and processing, at the surface or underground, and the use of toxic chemicals in any metal mining process.
In El Salvador the metal mining business does not have much significance, since up until now the income resulting from this activity has been very low.In 2013 the value of exported ores was only $1.3 million, going up to $1.6 million in 2014, and falling to $600,000 in 2015.
A new ruling by the International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes requires the mining company OceanaGold to pay interest on the $8 million it owes to the Salvadoran State.
From a statement issued by the Comptroller General of the Republic:
The International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) has reported that the mining company Oceana Gold (formerly Pacific Rim) must pay interest to the State of El Salvador on the legal costs owed by the aforementioned transnational.
In 2015 Honduras and Guatemala exported ores such as zinc, nickel and other precious metals worth $47 million and $46 million respectively.
Figuresfrom the Report on Import and Export of Ores, Slag and Ash in Central America,prepared by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData.com show that in 2015 the countries in the region exported 1,207,000 tons of ores, slag and ash, equivalent in value to $93.4 million.
The International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes has ruled in favor of El Salvador in the dispute with the mining company OceanaGold, owner of the El Dorado gold mine.
From a press release by OceanaGold Corporation:
(MELBOURNE) OceanaGold Corporation (TSX/ASX/NZX: OGC) (the “Company”) has been advised that the arbitration tribunal constituted by the World Bank’s International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (“ICSID”) has found in favour of the Government of El Salvador (the “Government”) in its dispute with an OceanaGold indirect subsidiary company, Pac Rim Cayman LLC. ICSID granted an award of US$8 million to the Government of El Salvador to cover its legal fees and costs.