For the third quarter of 2021, imports of non-alcoholic beverages reached $412 million in the Central American region, the main supplier was Guatemalan companies with $100 million.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graphic"]
The import of beer in the region was dominated by Guatemala with $26.3 million equivalent to 25.88% of regional purchases, the main supplier of this product was Mexico with $38.6 million which is 51.72%.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graphic"]
During 2020, imports of fruit and vegetable juices by companies in the region totaled $79 million, and purchases from Brazilian companies increased 45% over what was reported in 2019.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graph"]
After in August 2020, in the context of the pandemic caused by covid-19, regional imports of bottled water dropped to a historic low of $700 thousand, in the following months a recovery was evidenced and in December the figure rose to $2 million.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graphic"].
After in May 2020, in the context of the pandemic caused by covid-19, regional beer imports fell to a historic low of $4 million, in the following months a recovery was evidenced and in September the figure rose to $23 million.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graphic"].
From January to September 2020, Central American wine imports totaled $47 million, and regional purchases from German companies increased 7% compared to the same period in 2019.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graphic"]
From January to September 2020, companies in the region bought fruit and vegetable juices abroad for $79 million, 17% less than in the same period of 2019, a drop that is explained by the decrease in imports from all Central American countries.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graph"]
Interest in wines has been on the rise in the digital environment in the last quarter of 2020 and in January 2021, an upturn that is explained by the behavior of consumers in all markets in the region.
Through a system that monitors in real time the changes in the interests and preferences of consumers in the countries of Central America, developed by CentralAmericaData, it is possible to project demand trends in the short and long term, for the different products, services, sectors and markets operating in the region.
From January to June 2020, bottled water imports in Central America totaled $12 million, and purchases from companies in Mexico increased 86% compared to the same period in 2019.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graph"]
In Guatemala, the Embotelladora Los Volcanes, which produces and distributes Coca-Cola brand beverages, is executing expansion works at its industrial plant located in the department of Retalhuleu, a project that required an investment of $60 million and is expected to be completed in April 2021.
The project began in March 2019; however, due to the covid-19 outbreak, work was suspended and it was only in the second half of 2020 that work was reactivated.
As a result of the restrictions on mobility and the ban on the sale of alcoholic beverages, which were decreed in 2020 to mitigate the outbreak of covid-19, it is estimated that the smuggling of liquor from Mexico into the Guatemalan market increased considerably.
According to the report Prohibitions, illicit alcohol and lessons to be learned from the covid-19 lockdown, prepared by the Transnational Alliance to Combat Illicit Trade (Tracit), the dry law imposed for long periods boosted sales of smuggled alcoholic beverages.
From January to June 2020, regional beer imports totaled $83 million, 24% less than what was reported for the same period in 2019, with Guatemala and Panama being the markets that registered the most significant drops.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphic"]
In recent years’ Spanish wines have gained importance according to the amount purchased, since in the first half of 2012 they represented 10% of total regional imports and for the same period in 2020 the proportion rose to 23%.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graph"]
Beverage Industry Digital Magazine established in 1942, the oldest Spanish trade journal and the only beverage trade magazine serving the Latin American beverage market. It serves soft drink bottlers, brewers, bottled water...
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