Against the backdrop of an imbalance in trade and restrictions decreed in several markets around the world, Central American companies in the garment business are operating and generating export earnings at levels that merely allow them to subsist.
Data from the Office of Textiles and Apparel, of the U.S. International Trade Administration, say that between the first half of 2019 and the same period in 2020, Central American textile exports to the U.S. decreased by 34%, from $ 17,593 million to $ 11,553 million.
According to businessmen in the country's textile sector, as a result of the covid-19 pandemic, a reduction in work orders is expected during the second half of the year.
Representatives of the Nicaraguan Association of the Textile and Clothing Industry (Anitec), predict that with the closure of the stores of several of their clients, sales will be reduced considerably and inventory levels will increase.
The American Aalfs Uno, which operated in the municipality of Sébaco, in Matagalpa, closed its operations in the country due to a reduction in the number of contracts.
The closure of the company was made official by directors of the Nicaraguan Association of Textiles and Apparel Industry (Anitec), who say it is the first company in the U.S. capital sector to close in the country.
Despite global threats, such as the possibility of a global economic slowdown, businessmen in the sector are confident that their sales will continue to rise.
Companies operating under the free zone regime in the country, estimate that their sales abroad during 2019 amounted to about $ 1.7 billion, an amount that exceeds by 5% what was recorded in 2018.
Since January 1, 2020, Nicaraguan authorities have been charging $25 for the electronic processing of the Single Central American Transit Declaration, a cost that exceeds by 233% what was paid until the end of 2019.
Until December 31 last year, the General Directorate of Customs Services (DGA) charged $7.5 for the Single Central American Declaration in Transit (DUCA), but with the new provision of the authorities, the cost increased by $17.5 for 2020.
Faced with the threat of a global economic slowdown and the possibility of the U.S. entering recession next year, businessmen in the region argue that to mitigate possible adverse effects, it is key to diversify export destinations.
Market analysts assure that the slowdown in U.S. economic activity is already a reality, and that what is still not clear, is the possibility that the economy will go into recession next year.
In the first half of the year in Nicaragua, textile companies reported a slight increase in the volume exported, mainly because of an improvement in prices paid internationally.
According to data from the U.S. Office of Textiles and Clothing (Otexa), between the first half of 2018 and the same period in 2019 the volume of textile and apparel exports from Nicaragua to the U.S. grew slightly by 1.2%, from 270 million to 273 million square meters.
The decline in the number of companies in Nicaragua's free trade zones partly explains the loss of nearly 1,700 jobs in the first two months of the year.
Figures from the Central Bank of Nicaragua (BCN) show that between December 2018 and February 2019, the number of workers decreased by 1,697, from 125,550 to 123,853.
The number of companies in free trade zones also fell at the beginning of the year, from 194 in December 2018 to 187 in February 2019.
On January 5th, 2019, an 8.25% increase in the minimum wage for workers in free trade zones came into effect in Nicaragua.
According to the Ministry of Labor, the minimum monthly wage in the free trade zones last year reached $168 during 2018, and with the increase in force since the beginning of the year, the minimum monthly payment will be $182.
The increase in salary is because employers and workers signed a multi-year agreement to increase the minimum wage annually by a percentage of 8.25% in the period 2018-2022.
The business sector in Nicaragua has denounced the fact that customs control processes for goods are taking longer than normal, due to the fact that the authorities are carrying out "security" inspections.
Before the start of the socio-political crisis, the risk management system, whose function is to determine how much imported merchandise should be inspected, operated at random and inspected 20% of total purchases coming from abroad.However, in recent months authorities have chosen to inspect all of the merchandise, generating significant delays at customs enclosures.
After having recorded a slight fall in 2017, companies in the free trade zone regime of Nicaragua plan to achieve a 5% growth in their exports this year.
One of the engines of growth that is expected to be achieved in 2018 is investments and reinvestmentson the part of existing companies that are anticipated for this year. According to free zone entrepreneurs, between $300 million and $400 million could be invested.
Problems with the computer system are affecting processes such as settlements, online payments and shipping of free zone containers in transit to the port.
The Higher Council of Private Enterprise (Cosep) will be asking the government to put in place a contingency plan to correct the problems that have arisen in the customs computer system.
The Nicaraguan private sector has proposed that the operation of the port be awarded in concession or a public-private scheme used in order to improve the efficiency and management of the port terminal.
Representatives of the Higher Council of Private Enterprise (Cosep) analyzed the scheme under which the Honduran port terminal in Cortes operates, which was granted in concession to the Central American Port Operator (OPC), to evaluate if it would be feasible to replicate the model in Port Maroon.
A proposal put forward by the textile sector seeks to generate trade between national and free zone companies, starting with the possibility that the latter provide raw materials to local companies.
The objective of the Nicaraguan Association of Textiles and Confection of Free Zones (ANITEX) is to generate greater links between the companies that operate under the regime and those in the national market.
The textile sector claims that the high cost of electricity in the country has become a limiting factor to foreign investment.
The union of textile companies states that more foreign investment could reach the industry if the cost of electricity was not so high.According to Dean Garcia, executive director of the Nicaraguan Association of the Textile and Apparel Industry (Anitec),"... there could be benefits from the entry of textile companies and spinning mills setting up in Nicaragua and producing sufficient raw material for the industry that already exists in the country. "
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