In 2015 Guatemala led the export of raw sugar with $848 million, followed by El Salvador with $178 million and Nicaragua with $114 million.
Foreign Trade figures for Raw sugar in Central America, analyzed by the Business Intelligence unit at CentralAmericaData report that in 2015 the countries in Central America exported a combined total of 3 million 292 thousand tons of raw sugar equivalent to $1.289 billion.
A study requested by the union will determine how sugar profits should be divided between producers and industrialists, providing information for a law reform.
The information derived from the study, which according to the Salvadoran Sugar Industry Council, is being undertaken by the FAO, could solve part of the conflict over the distribution of profits between manufacturers and producers.
In October 2017 production limits and the "out of -quota" production concept will eliminate for the manufacture of biofuel and industrial non-food products.
The current production quota for sugar according to the European Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), which applies to the 28 countries in the bloc, is 13.5 million tons per year.The production capacity of sugar producers in the European bloc is higher than the quota, therefore eliminating production limits will lead to a lowering of prices due to excess supply, similar to what has already happened in the milk market following the elimination of production quotas.
The Brazilian Raízen has allied itself with the agricultural commodities company Singapore Wilmar, to create the largest exporting sugar group in the world with 4.5 million tons per year.
From a press release by Wilmar:
São Paulo and Singapore, October 4TH, 2016 – Raízen Energia S.A. (Raízen) and Wilmar International Limited are pleased to announce the creation of a new joint venture called "Raízen and Wilmar Sugar Pte.
The drought caused a decline of 18% in the 2015/16 harvest, and exporters project a reduction of $40 million in foreign sales.
Sugar producers are backing a plan to improve productivity per hectare in the next harvest in order to try to recover some of what was lost in the 2015/16 harvest.In the current harvest the climate phenomenon reduced total production to 2010 levels, falling from 790 thousand tons in the period 2014/15 to 650 thousand tons in 2015/16.
After five consecutive months of increases, the index of food prices fell slightly in July, reflecting a reduction in the prices of cereals and vegetable oils.
From a statement issued by the Food and Agriculture Organization:
4 August 2016, Rome –The international prices for majorfood commoditiessaw a modest decline in July, following five consecutive months of increases. The FAO Food Price Index (FPI) averaged 161.9 points in July 2016, slipping 0.8 percent (1.3 points) below its level in June and 1.4 percent below its level of July 2015.The overall decline of the Index was largely caused by drops in international quotations of grains and vegetable oils, more than offsetting firmer dairy, meat and sugar prices.
Agroindustrialists are opposed to the bill with which cane growers intend to establish an additional payment for the bagasse they provide.
The Sugar Association of El Salvador argues that the price paid to sugarcane growers for bagasse is already built into the price of sugar, "... as evidenced by the purchase agreement".
As of June 27, 2016 packaged products must have a label warning about the high levels of sugar, sodium, saturated fat and calories.
The new regulation also states that if the content of sugars, sodium, saturated fat and calories exceed the limits established by the new legislation, producers must label the container with a black symbol with white letters.
The FAO Food Price Index continues to show a slow upward trend for the third consecutive month.
From a statement issued by the Food and Agriculture Organization:
The FAO Food Price Index (FFPI) averaged 151.8 points in April 2016, up 1.1 points (0.7 percent) from March, but almost 10 percent below its April 2015 level. A relatively strong rise in vegetable oil quotations coupled with a more modest gain in international prices of cereals more than offset a decline in dairy and sugar prices. The small increase in April represented a third month of gradual rise in the value of the FFPI.
Trade authorities in both countries have announced that before the end of the first half of this year the trade agreement that has been under negotiation since 2013 could be signed.
This is the third round of negotiations to finalize a Partial Scope and Economic Complementarity agreement between El Salvador and the Republic of Ecuador.
Among the products with the highest export interest from El Salvador are articles of clothing, plastics, candies, chocolates, juices and nectars, and sugar, among other things. Meanwhile, among Ecuador's interests are white goods, ceramics, cocoa preparations, wood, flowers, and bananas, among other things.
Behavior of markets and prices in February 2016 of beef, cattle, gold, rice, coffee, sugar, corn and wheat.
From a report by the Central Bank of Nicaragua:
Behavior of markets and prices of major commodities up to February 2016:
Coffee: Coffee futures price in February fell by 0.8 from the previous month, standing at 116.4 cents per pound. Similarly, the price was lower by 25.1% in annual terms.
The FAO Food Price Index averaged 150.2 points in February 2016, nearly unchanged from January, but 14.5% below February 2015.
From a statement issued by the Food and Agriculture Organization:
The FAO Food Price Index* (FFPI) averaged 150.2 points in February 2016, nearly unchanged from January, but 25.6 points (14.5 percent) below February 2015. The most outstanding development last month was a surge in vegetable oil quotations, which, along with a small recovery in meat prices, more than offset declining cereal, sugar and dairy prices.
In October, the index of food prices recorded an increase of 4%, driven mainly by rising prices of sugar, vegetable oils and dairy products.
From the report by the Food World Organization:
The FAO Food Price Index* averaged nearly 162 points in October 2015, as much as 6 points (3.9 percent) more than in September and the sharpest increase since July 2012.