In Costa Rica, of the total number of exporters whose majority of shipments are in the metal-mechanics, electrical and electronics or plastics sectors, 25% meet a profile of potential participation in global value chains.
An analysis prepared by the Foreign Trade Promotion Agency of Costa Rica (Procomer) explains that "... the 3 sectors agree in selling their products to at least 6 main GVCs: construction (25% of companies), agriculture (23%) trade (20%), food (11%), electronic components and telecommunications (10%) and medical industry (9%)."
After the Nicaraguan company Astro Packing Solution announced an indefinite closure of its operations, local companies predict that packaging will become more expensive in the coming weeks and will be forced to look for new suppliers in neighboring countries.
From January to September 2020, imports for plastic and its manufactures totaled $2,681 million, 13% less than what was reported in the same period of 2019, a drop that was reported in the context of the economic and sanitary crisis caused by the Covid-19 outbreak.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graph"]
In Nicaragua, Astro Packing Solution, a company involved in the manufacture of packaging and plastic products, notified its clients that it will close indefinitely due to a shortage of raw materials.
CentralAmericaData anticipated this scenario in mid-February. According to a publication dated February 15, due to the shortage of raw materials and the bottlenecks in the production of the inputs demanded by the plastics industry, businessmen in the region predicted that in the coming months the prices of the products manufactured by the sector would increase.
After in May 2020, in the context of the pandemic caused by covid-19, Central American imports of oiling fell to a historic low of $242 million, in the following months an incipient recovery was evidenced.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graphic"].
During the first nine months of 2020, companies in Central American countries imported insecticides, herbicides and fungicides for $617 million, 30% more than what was reported in the same period of 2019, a rise that is explained by the behavior of purchases from all markets in the region.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graph"]
Due to shortages in raw materials and bottlenecks in the production of inputs demanded by the sector, businessmen in El Salvador expect that in the coming weeks the prices of plastic products will reflect increases.
In the first six months of 2020, trade of paints and varnishes between Central American countries amounted to $43 million, an amount that is 30% lower than that recorded in the same period of 2019.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graphic"]
The Costa Rican Social Security Fund (Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social) tenders the supply of card reagents to be used in blood banks, on a delivery on demand basis.
Between January and June 2020, Central America allocated $448 million to fertilizer imports, 2% more than the same period in 2019. Nicaragua, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador were the markets that explained the increase in regional purchases.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphic"]
Following the reactivation of China's economy in mid-2020, the Asian giant has monopolized a good part of the raw materials demanded by industry, a situation that is pushing up costs and generating uncertainty among Central American businessmen.
Due to the pandemic generated by the covid-19 outbreak, production in China was considerably interrupted during the first semester of 2020. But, after it reactivated its economic activity, the Asian country began to hoard raw materials that are used in the plastic industry.
From January to June 2020, Central American countries imported $169 million in plastic pipe and accessories, and purchases from German companies increased by 64%, when compared to the same period in 2019.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Area of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphic"]
Vacuum packaging, films for use in agricultural production and resin for mass consumption were some of the products that increased their sales in the Guatemalan market during the pandemic.
As a result of the pandemic that generated the spread of covid-19, during 2020 there were changes in consumption patterns, a phenomenon that forced the plastics industry to adapt to the new reality.
The National Oncology Institute tenders the supply of reagents for the analysis of general chemistry tests and therapeutic drugs in liquid chemistry, with their respective equipment installation.
Panama Government Purchase 2020-0-12-11-08-LP-017265:
Operating Company dedicated to the manufacture of gluten-free and sugar-free products, OHNE brand. The OHNE brand has 8 product lines: square bread, sweet...