Companies in the disposable plastic manufacturing sector have the capacity to replace all their production with environmentally friendly options, but the main obstacle is the limited capacity that customers must pay the surcharge for bioplastics.
In Costa Rica, some 31 companies indicated that they have the capacity to replace all their production with user-friendly options, the main limitations being the low capacity of customers to pay the surcharge for bioplastics and the restrictions on the functionality of the alternatives.
Last year, bottled water sales in Costa Rica were estimated at $89 million and they are expected to increase up to $106 million in 2023, a behavior explained by the downward trend in the consumption of carbonated beverages.
Although companies such as Florida Ice & Farm Co (Fifco) and Coca Cola Femsa have the opportunity to grow in the Costa Rican market, they will also face competition from new entrants such as Premium Brands.
In four years Costa Rica has doubled its exports of frozen fruit, going from sales of $36 million in 2011 to $71 million in 2015.
An article on Elfinancierocr.com reports that the reason for this growth , "... could be a reduction in the supply of these products by Asian businesses, according to the CEO of the company Frutera La Paz, Luisa Chacon."
The European Authority for Food Safety is reviewing in detail allergenic products and substances whose presence in food must be indicated on the label, according to European law.
From a press release by the Costa Rican Foreign Trade Promotion Office (PROCOMER):
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has updated its scientific advice on food allergens.
Companies in the coffee sector will go to Taiwan on November 14th to participate in the International Fair of Coffee, Tea and Wine.
For the third consecutive year, with the support of the Council for the Promotion of Foreign Trade of Taiwan companies in the sector will be taking part in the Taiwanese business fair. Some of the participating companies are Mayaland Coffee, Seacsa Business Group, Asdecafé, Finca Chacayá, Asproguate and Finca El Triunfo.
In 2013 the export supply of the region in the international market was focused on integrated electronic circuits, coffee, bananas, sugarcane and medical devices.
From a report by the Secretariat of Central American Economic Integration (SIEC):
Diversification of exports is above the thresholds of the largest Latin American exporting economies.
The propensity for a healthier consumption has created opportunities for drinks that prevent diseases.
From an article by the Costa Rican Foreign Trade Promotion Office:
According to the consulting firm Innova Market Insights, within the main trends for 2014 in the market for juices and beverages, is reducing waste in production processes and a greater focus on consumer confidence.
Unlike European and South American consumers, Asians show a greater willingness to pay more for organic products.
From an article by the Costa Rican Foreign Trade Promotion Office (PROCOMER):
The Spaniards are not willing to pay more for organic products, as is clear from the last Socialogue Report prepared by IPSOS in 24 countries worldwide. Although more than half of the Spanish population (51%) are appreciative of businesses who undertake initiatives to respect the environment, only 27 % were willing to pay more for these products.
On November 19th, eight Guatemalan companies will travel to the Asian nation with the aim of promoting the sale of Guatemalan coffee and tea.
Prensalibre.com reports: "This is the second mission from Guatemala that will go to Taiwan so far this year and in this activity Guatemala tea will also be offered".
According to the economic counselor of the Embassy of Taiwan, Eugenia Yang, Guatemalan coffee has been well accepted in that country and they are looking to increase trade relations in order to expand into the Asian continent.
Previously unthinkable export deals are now possible thanks to the soaring consumption levels of the Chinese.
An article by Amafredo Castellanos in Revistamyt.com reviews the success of Guatemala's Acuamaya, one of the largest shrimp companies in the region, which has already begun to export shrimp to China.
"... Selling seafood to China, or coffee, may sound like a joke.
The fall in consumption in Europe is forcing companies in the old continent to internationalize and find businesses in markets that have been hitherto unappreciated.
There is no longer such a thing as small markets, either in terms of size or purchasing power. And neither is the size of a company a limiting factor for, through the globalization of logistics, products to be sold worldwide, or to buy them from any country.
The Inter-American Development Bank has launched a new version of the Intrade website with information on tariffs and trade agreements for companies and countries seeking new markets for their exports.
A statement from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) reads:
IDB launches new version of Intrade, the most complete business information system in the region.
In the last twenty years the country increased its exports from 8 to 131 markets and from 149 to 4.075 products.
There has also been an increase in exporting companies from 237 to 3.979, according to the Guatemalan Association of Exporters.
“Fanny D. Estrada, Director of Competitiveness and Market Access of Agexport, said that penetration in other markets originated with the approval in 1989 of the Law on Incentives for Export Activity, which allowed the arrival of companies which already had foreign markets for their products,” reported Sigloxxi.com.
The global market adds 50 million consumers each year. Is your company ready to take advantages of theses new opportunities?
If Herb Meyer’s prediction of 50 million new consumers per year is accurate, as was his conjecture that the Soviet Union would fall, it may be crucial to get ready to what he labels “the greatest change the world has ever seen”.
If we take into consideration which economies fared better in the crisis, we should seek trade partners in Asia and not in Europe.
Manuel Hinds analyzed El Salvador’s economy and exports, and his findings can be applied to the entire region. Costa Rica has already started the essential road to diversify its exports markets by closing Free Trade Agreements with China and Singapore.