Between January and September 2016 Central American countries exported 29 thousand tons of frozen shrimp and prawn to countries outside of the region, equivalent to $204 million.
Figures from the information system on the Market for Frozen Shrimp and Shrimp in Central America compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [Figure caption = "Click to interact with graphics"]
The third edition of the International Agricultural Fair will be held in San Pedro Sula on 19 and 20 May 2016, at the Expocentro Convention Center.
From a statement issued by Agromercados 2016:
The event aims to act as a meeting point in Honduras between public and private actors representing the different links in the agricultural chain (producers, domestic and international buyers, agro-exporters, agribusiness, financial sector, raw material suppliers, packaging, services, public entities and cooperatives, etc.) in order to promote business deals. More than 1,000 visitors are expected.
From August 24th to 26th the eleventh edition of the Central American Aquaculture Conference will be held in Choluteca, Honduras.
From a statement issued by the National Aquaculture Association of Honduras:
Honduras will host the XI Central American Aquaculture Symposium event in which appointments will be held with producers and specialized lectures given on the scientific and technological development of global aquaculture.
Producers claim that a new phytosanitary requirement imposed by Mexican authorities on shrimp imports constitutes a non-tariff barrier.
Mexican authorities are now requiring that each shipment of shrimp entering the country from Guatemala carry a phytosanitary certificate of laboratory analysis, which takes 72 hours to be issued, affecting the lifespan of the product.
With a bill to incentivize development of the sector and other measures to provide facilities to farmers, the government aims to boost the growth of aquaculture in the country.
From a statement issued by the Costa Rican Foreign Trade Promotion Office (Procomer):
The Ministry of Production of Peru announced a series of measures aimed at laying the foundations for sustainable development and launching aquaculture within the framework of the implementation of the National Plan for Productive Diversification.
The Central Cruise Summit 2015 will be held in El Salvador, from 13 to 15 May, where it is expected that 15 corporations from the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association will be involved.
The Salvadoran Chamber of Tourism (CASATUR) hopes to have the participation of 30 union members who will be publicizing various tour packages offered by shipping lines.
Fish which undergoes long-term processing such as canned fish, seafood and prepared fish dishes represents 52% of the retail market for processed fish, followed by frozen and refrigerated fish.
From a statement issued by the Foreign Trade Promotion Office of Costa Rica (PROCOMER):
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Agri-Food in Canada (AAFC), the seafood market in Canada increased from $2.8 billion (684.200 tons) in 2009 to $3.8 billion (709.100 tons) in 2013 and it is expected that demand will continue to increase as Canadians include fish and seafood as a regular part of their healthy diet. It is also expected that prices will increase by over 40% in 2016 compared to 2009.
Starting July 17th the categorization of products according to their health risk will be applied and a 15 day shipping notice will be required to import those labelled as "high risk."
A new "Directive on sanitation and phytosanitation for the facilitation of trade in goods and shipments in Central America", adopted by the Council of Ministers for Economic Integration (Comieco), approved in January and which will come into effect from Thursday, July 17, could detract agility from intraregional trade, warns the Exporters Corporation of El Salvador (Coexport).
85% of the seafood consumed by Americans is imported, with shrimp, freshwater fish fillets and crab having the largest volume of all such goods imported from abroad.
From a statement issued by the Costa Rican Foreign Trade Promotion Office:
Some time ago, the USA depended only on shellfish fished on its coasts, the state of New York was famous for its oysters and Louisiana and Mississippi for its prawns, but things have changed.
Guatemala exports to South Korea and China have increased by 185% and 382%, respectively.
Details from the Guatemalan Association of Exporters (Agexport) show that South Korea and China are the two Asian countries with the most products sales from the Central American nation, with honey, sugar and shrimp being the main exports.
" ... Over the past year the value of products shipped to South Korea totaled $151.5 million, while in 2012 $53 million was sold, representing an increase of 185.5 %," said Estuardo Castillo, president of Agexport.
There is ample opportunity for countries that are willing to invest in better management of fisheries and environmentally sustainable aquaculture.
According to a report entitled "Fisheries Sector 2030: Prospects for fisheries and aquaculture" prepared by the World Bank (WB), almost two thirds of the seafood consumed globally will be produced by fish farming methods in 2030.
The disease affecting shellfish in Asia has driven up prices and benefited exporters in the region.
The lesser supply of shellfish has led to an increase in international prices which has in turn increased the value of exports sent from Central America.
In Nicaragua alone sales between January and October this year amounted to $75.6 million, representing an increase of 12% over what was exported in 2012.
A little over a year after the launch of the Aquaculture Stewardship Council seal of approval there are now over 500 certified aquaculture products which have been released onto the world's markets.
From an article by the Costa Rican Foreign Trade Promotion Office (PROCOMER):
In the world market there are over 500 aquaculture products certified under the seal ASC, the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (a nonprofit organization that certifies the sustainability of aquaculture products) a year and a few months since the launch of this new certificate.
In contrast to the forecasts of reduced fish resources, an increase in production of mollusk in the region has been projected.
In the region there are about 150 thousand artisanal fishermen of which about 2,500 are devoted to the cultivation of oysters, especially in Costa Rica and El Salvador. Although it is a small amount the Organization of Fisheries and Aquaculture in Central America (OSPESCA) argues that the idea is to create a new alternative.