Despite the complex situation, pig farmers in Nicaragua estimate that they will achieve their goal of producing and marketing 13,600 tons of pork this year.
According to representatives from the Nicaraguan Chamber of Producers (Caniporc), so far this year pork consumption went down by only 1% and the value of each live animal decreased by 5%, and the reason for this is the social and political crisis that has been affecting the country for more than five months.
A subsidiary of Philip Morris in Costa Rica has acquired 100% of Tabacalera Costarricense, which will maintain its operation, but will suspend the production of cigarettes in the country.
The company announced that the products that up till now have been manufactured in Costa Rica will be produced at Philip Morris International's global plants.
Last year, 2.3 million tons of bagasse were used to generate energy, and production is expected to be even higher this year.
The National Committee of Sugar Producers (CNPA) expects that the generation of energy using cane bagasse will be maintained in the medium term, since they predict good results for the production of cane. Last year, 2.3 million tons of bagasse were produced, which were used to generate energy, and this year they expect production to be even higher.
Techniques of production and genetics are some of the topics that will be discussed on November 17th at the congress of pork producers, to be held in Managua.
The event is being organized by the Nicaraguan Chamber of Producers (Caniporc), and will take place at the Best Western Las Mercedes Hotel.
The meat and sausage processors' association estimates that 7.5 million pounds are processed on a monthly basis.
Sergio Moreno, president of the Honduran Association of Processors of Meats and Sausages, which groups together about 15 companies, explained to Laprensa.hn that"... every month the Honduran families that buy these products consume between 3 and 4 pounds of processed meat, a pattern of consumption similar to that of other Central American countries."
The union of the balanced food industry reports a 10% growth in 2016, in a market where 90% is local production and 10% are imported products.
In 2016 Costa Rica imported 84,360 tons of animal feed, mainly from the United States, followed by Mexico with 22,700 tons, then from China, Colombia, Brazil, Guatemala, Ecuador, Peru, Nicaragua and France.
The union of pig farmers reported a production of 95 million pounds of pork in 2016, of which 35% was destined for domestic consumption.
Figures from the National Pork Producers Association (Anapoh) indicate that currently annual per capita consumption is 11.24 pounds of pork. The union reported a growth rate between 2015 and 2016 of about 15% in production and consumption of an equal magnitude.
The plant belonging to Maseca Group located in the department of Chimaltenango has been expanded to increase monthly production of corn flour by 1750 metric tons.
Prensalibre.com reports that with the expansion of the plant they will now be able to "... process an additional 1,750 metric tons a month, which will be used for the manufacture of cornmeal under the brands Maseca, Tortimasa, and Masarica. The figure is equivalent to the production of 3 million 800 thousand 2 pound packs of Maseca which could make over 119 million tortillas a month. "
The projected 16% drop in orange production in the state of Florida in the 2015-16 season will drive up the international price of fruit concentrate.
The Department of Agriculture reported that orange production in Florida will be reduced by up to 90 million cases in the 2015-2016 season, 16% less than in the previous season, when 96.8 million cases were produced.
Poultry farmers this year projected they will produce 657 million units, 11% more than last year.
The Nicaraguan Egg Commission in conjunction with the National Association of Poultry Farmers and Food Producers (ANAP) has projected an 11% increase in production of egg units this 2016, thanks to the fact that in November 2015 the sector had grown by 9.2 % and it reached 18.1 million boxes in the first eleven months of the year, reported Elnuevodiario.com.ni.
The Mexican group has agreed to acquire 100% of the shares of the Nicaraguan company which has sales of $46 million a year.
From a statement issued by Grupo Lala:
Mexico City, on January 28, 2016 - Grupo LALA, SAB de CV, a Mexican company focusing on the healthy foods industry (BMV: LALA B), reports that it has entered into an agreement to acquire 100% of the capital shares of Productos Lácteos La Perfecta, S.A.
The 2014/15 production cycle was 2.5 million tons, 5.4% less than production in the previous period.
From a report by the General Comptroller of the Republic:
The area planted with sugar cane for the 2014/15 crop year was 41.424 hectares, representing an increase of 2.9% compared with the 2013/14 crop year which was of 40.274 hectares.
It is noteworthy that the sugar cane harvest, was 2,589,530 short tons, according to what was observed, a decrease of 5.4% compared to the last year which was 2,736,138 short tons.This decrease is due to some plots performing poorly and hectares were left for seed.
The increase in production added to the imports coming from Chile does not explain the sharp drop in the price of pork in the Costa Rican market.
The June 2015 report by the National Production Council on the pork market contains data and information relevant to understand the protests by farmers against imports from Chile and statements about representatives from various economic sectors and companies operating in this market.
The start of operations by Lala will have a favorable impact on the conditions of production and quality of milk and stabilize the price of milk for producers.
The start of operations of a plant with capacity to process up to 300 thousand liters of milk per day will result in benefits not only for the production sector, which could sell most of the expressed milk, but also force an improvement in the regional dairy market conditions, infrastructure and production practices related to animal feed, sanitary measures, among other things.
Producers are demanding a halt to imports of the product arguing that industrialists are taking advantage of the low prices of milk powder to use them as a substitute for fresh milk.
In January this year, imports of milk powder reported $3.89 million, while in the same month last year $3.41 billion was recorded. The price per ton showed a decrease of $10, since during 2014 it was trading at $820 and went down to $810 this year, according to statistics from the Center for Exports.