For 2021, there was a 74% increase equivalent to $548 million for a volume of 1,028,504 tons of ceramic products, with Guatemala being the largest importer with $83 million, the main supplier to the Central American region was Spain with 19% of purchases with $105 million.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graphic"]
Searching for home furnishings, accessories, clothing and gifts, more than 150 local and international buyers will participate in the New World Crafts Fair, to be held in Antigua on September 24 and 25.
From the Agexport statement:
AGEXPORT's Handmade Commission prepares for the 12th. Edition of the New World Crafts Fair (NWC), the most important marketing platform for handmade products from Guatemala in the region and one of the main in Latin America, which will take place on September 24 and 25, 2019 at the Hotel Casa Santo Domingo, Antigua Guatemala.
On September 19th and 20th, 2017 in Antigua, Guatemala, business appointments will be held between international buyers and handicraft companies from Central America.
In the eleventh edition of the New World Crafts Fair, around a thousand products from craft companies from Central America will be exhibited, and several rounds of business appointments will be held with some 100 international buyers.
In Guatemala sales of artisan products abroad totaled $63 million in 2017, 5% more than in 2016.
This year Guatemalan artisans will give priority to the markets of Germany, the United Kingdom and Canada, and expect to increase exports by 5% compared to 2017.
According to the union of exporters, 80 more tons of handicrafts were sold last year than in 2016.Dca.gob.gt reports that "...This growth was influenced by the constant innovation on the part of companies that make up the Craft Commission of Agexport, designing products ranging from those made with natural materials combined with designs and fabrics made by hand by craftsmen, to carpets, shoes, household decoration items and unique accessories with ecological and environmentally sustainable materials."
The industry has established itself in the premium business circuit and benefits from exceptional worldwide exposure.
The same day that elections were held in Guatemala, members of a select global network of buyers of handicrafts, were in Antigua, visiting the fair where Guatemalan artisans exhibited their works.
In her article in Prensalibre.com, Fanny Estrada reports that "...
Informal competition is partly responsible for the drop in sales at art galleries and in the number of companies engaged in the activity, which has fallen by 33% in the last five years.
Because they are a luxury rather than a necessity, sales of works of art such as paintings and sculptures have declined in recent years in Costa Rica. Unlike Panama, where greater purchasing power has made the art business grow, entrepreneurs in Costa Rica have had to diversify, looking for business on the internet, at auctions, and focusing on other basic services, such as framing.
The Central American Economic Integration Secretariat presents the report "Trade handicrafts in Central America: Review of market opportunities".
In this report an a first attempt has been made to characterize the participation of industries related to handicrafts at both the Central American intraregional market as well as with third party partners. Despite the limited development of business internationally, the industry linked to handicrafts in Central America has managed to expand its export capacity in recent years.
On September 23rd-25th business meetings will be held in Antigua between international buyers and Guatemalan handicrafts companies.
From a statement issued by the Government of Guatemala:
The handmade crafts sector, made up of 70 percent female workers, is seeking to increase exports to major international markets, where they are recognized for their creativity.
In 2013 $23 million has been invested in foreign productions in Panama, considerably more than the average of between $2 and $3 million in previous years.
The increase was reported by the Director General of the Panamanian Film Industry, Arianne Benedetti.
Variety magazine, on its website, claimed part of the growth is due to Law No 16, of April 2012, which grants tax benefits to film and television productions in the country, adding that it "motivated the interest of the participants during the San Sebastian International Festival held in Spain ".
In the first call for a Film Fund tender, which will fund the winning productions with more than two million dollars, 52 Panamanian projects qualified.
A statement from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry reads:
MICI TO FINANCE BEST PANAMANIAN PRODUCTIONS THROUGH FILM FUND CONTEST
52 Panamanian projects have qualified in the first call for the Film Fund Contest, which will fund the winning productions with more than two million dollars, announced the Minister of Trade and Industry, Ricardo Quijano.
Investing in art can be a refuge for your money, but it can also be a source of serious losses if there are flaws in the authentication of each piece.
An article in El-nacional.com details various methods that can be used to ensure the authenticity of works of art, noting the recent recuperation in Miami of a stolen artwork whose author is presumed to be Matisse.
Handicrafts exports have proved to be a good deal for small businesses.
Promoting the brand of Nicaragua, the main products exported are handmade ceramics, furniture, hammocks, textiles and marble stone, said the president of Grupo Raíces, Silvia Torrez.
Torrez explained in an article in Laprensa.com.ni that, "the main challenges facing the sector are to stay in the markets, because there must be communication, experience and to keep on the lookout for buyers and sometimes complying with them becomes a problem and that should not be, because we should all work in an articulated, organized way."
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