Sales of fish preparations and canned fish, caviar and its substitutes prepared with fish roe in the Central American region remained relatively stable, with a value of $22.3 million and 4,182 tons, with El Salvador being the main exporter with $82 million.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [ GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graphic"]
During 2021, a moderate growth of 14% was observed, reaching $339 million of purchases in Central America from Mexico, where the main importer in the region was Guatemala with $83 million.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graphic"]
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"]
For 2021, the value of imports of tires for use in buses and trucks in Central America is observed for $299 million, which is an increase in the variation of almost 40% from the period analyzed from 2012 to 2020, in addition, the main supplier of this product is China, which has led in the region.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graphic"]
For 2021, gold exports in Central America obtained a 387% increase in sales by reaching $310 million, with Nicaragua being the main exporter with a value of $1,534 million and a volume of 47 tons, being the main buyer the United States with $1,064 million.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graphic"]
By 2021, toilet paper imports increased slightly by 6% to reach $280 million, with Costa Rica being the main importer in the Central American region with $69 million, the main supplier to Central America was El Salvador with $170 million.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graphic"]
By 2021, a recovery of the paper and cardboard sector is observed, reaching $2,471 million, equivalent to 1,942,360 tons, with the main supplier being the United States of America market with $837 million.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graphic"]
By 2021, there will be a reduction in the import of pharmaceutical products containing insulin at the Central American level by 44%, equivalent to $1,948 million, with Costa Rica being the main buyer with $10 million.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graphic"]
By 2021, the sector of imports of refrigerators and freezers in Central America rose by 149%, Guatemala being the main buyer in the region by $106 million, where the main supplier was Mexico which accounted for 33% in sales to the region, equivalent to $194 million.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graphic"]
For the third quarter of 2021 a slow recovery of the automotive sector is seen, reaching purchases in the Central American region for $451 million, with China being the main supplier, with 27% of the market.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graphic"]
During the third quarter of 2021 there was a 20% increase equivalent to $1.59 billion, the main supplier of electrical transformers for Central America was China with $521 million, cornering the region with 33%.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graphic"]
Companies that offer their customers mobile and digital payment options, and also have cybersecurity mechanisms for fraud prevention, are the ones that will be able to take advantage of their position in this context of e-commerce boom.
The pandemic has considerably changed consumer habits, because of the quarantine decreed in the countries of the region, people prefer to spend more time at home, a phenomenon that forced companies to offer their customers online shopping options.
Within the framework of the fiscal adjustment being discussed in El Salvador in order to sign an agreement with the IMF, local authorities intend to apply VAT, ISR and other specific taxes to companies that sell their products and services online.
At the beginning of March, the Ministry of Finance informed that El Salvador is in talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to obtain a loan of approximately $1.3 billion.
In Costa Rica, most of the customers who make purchases through digital channels are young women, a good part of this group of people resides in San Jose and buy through social networks.
E-commerce has become important in all markets, especially since the declaration of emergency due to the outbreak of Covid-19 and the restrictions on the mobility of people imposed by Central American governments.
Accurately calculating freight costs and delivery times to make online sales profitable for companies are, in this context of the e-commerce rise, some of the most important challenges for the retail sector.
The changes in consumer habits reported in the context of the new commercial reality, which arose quickly as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak and the restrictions imposed on mobility, have forced companies to transform the way they operate.