The Central American countries imported washing machines and their parts for $29 million between January and March 2018, and 70% were bought by companies in Costa Rica, Guatemala and Panama.
Figures from the information system of the Laundry Machines Market and its Parts in Central America, from the Trade Intelligence Area of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphic"]
Lack of legal certainty, electricity theft and social conflicts are forcing businessmen in Guatemala's energy sector to choose to relocate their investments to El Salvador.
Last year, the companies Applied Energy Services (AES) and Corporación Multi Inversiones (CMI), both US and Guatemalan capital, decided to invest $47 million in solar energy projects, encouraged by the facilities offered to the energy sector in El Salvador.
Due to a group of demonstrators who have taken over the Chixoy hydroelectric facility, there is a risk that in Guatemala electricity service rates will increase by up to 10%.
Since September 25th, a group of people claiming the payment of a complementary compensation has taken over the hydroelectric plant Chixoy, one of the most important in the country, and threatens to set it on fire.
Guatemala exported $10 million worth of electricity to the neighboring country in the first seven months, significantly more than the one million dollars reported in 2017.
Sergio Recinos, Banco de Guatemala president, said to Dca.gob.gt that "... With regard to this activity, greater dynamism is expected in electricity generation associated with the expected increase in external demand from Mexico and the restructuring of the energy matrix'.”
The National Electrification Institute of Guatemala is putting out to tender the supply and commissioning of boards in the auxiliary services distribution system of the Jurún Marinalá plant.
Due to social conflicts and various legal processes, 16 hydroelectric projects have been halted in Guatemala, which together amount to an investment of close to $1.5 billion.
The Association of Generators of Renewable Energy (Ager) reported that power generation projects have been suspended because of conflicts with communities in the zones, consultation processes with indigenous peoples, and orders issued by the Constitutional Court, many of which which have been in response to claims raised by environmental organizations.These projects, for which no light can yet be seen at the end of the tunnel, represent an installed capacity of 460 MW.
In the last ten years the use of renewable energy has doubled in the country, and currently sources of generation of this type represent between 65% and 70% of national consumption.
According to the authorities at the National Electricity Commission (CNEE), the stability that has been achieved in electricity rates and the lower dependence on oil derivatives, is due to the fact that the country is consuming more energy generated through renewable sources.
Difficulties in a generating plant in Costa Rica and the growing regional energy demand are some of the reasons of the increase in electricity exports from Guatemala.
Statistics by Banco de Guatemala report that between January and July of this year sales abroad of electric power amounted to $81.7 million, an amount that exceeds by 36% the $60 million registered in the first seven months of 2017.
In the first quarter of the year, countries in the region imported $81 million worth of electrical transformers, registering an increase of 9% compared to the amount reported in the same period in 2017.
Figures from the information system on the Market for Transformers and Electric Converters and Reactor Coils in Central America, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with graph"]
From January to May of this year, Guatemala exported $7 million worth of electricity to Mexico, well above the one million dollars reported during the whole of 2017.
According to data from Banco de Guatemala, during the first five months of the year the country exported $51 million worth of electricity, of which 14% was bound for Mexico.
Last year countries in the region imported $317 million worth of electric transformers, which is equivalent to an increase of 2% compared to the figures in 2016.
Figures from the information system on the Market for Transformers and Electric Converters and Reactor Coils in Central America, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with graph"]
Explained by exports to El Salvador and Honduras, between January and March Guatemala's electricity sales totaled $31 million, 54% more than was reported in the same period in 2017.
According to figures from Banco de Guatemala, between the first quarter of 2017 and the same period in 2018, thevalue of electricity sales increased from $20 million to $31 million. In relation to the behavior of sales, records belonging to the Regional Operator confirm that since 2014 the country began its consolidation as a leader in the sale of electricity in Central America.
Last year, 87 environmental impact studies were submitted in the countries in the region, for the construction of power generation plants and works on electricity networks.
Panama is the country in the region where the largest investment is concentrated, with an approximate $1.29 billion in energyprojects, corresponding to 32 environmental impact studies submitted to the Ministry of the Environment between January and December 2017.
In 2017, purchases of electric motors and generators from Central American countries totaled $152 million, which represents an increase of 3% compared to the previous year.
Figures from the information system on the Electric Motors and Generators Market in Central America, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData : [GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with graph"]
In 2017, purchases of electric wires and cables from Central American countries totaled $791 million and grew by 74% with respect to the previous year, in contrast to the fall recorded between 2015 and 2016.
Figures from the information system of the Market of Wires, Cables and Other Electricity Conductors in Central America, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with graph"]
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