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"]
The growing uncertainty about the safety of seafood products exported from China, one of the world's leading producers, could represent an opportunity for Central American countries to gain some insight into the global market.
In this context of new commercial reality, the retail channel will continue to be the main demander in the short term for products that are easy to prepare such as tilapia, salmon, trout, shrimp and others with which consumers feel more comfortable cooking at home.
On August 14, the company Rianxeira began to operate its new plant for processing fish waste into flour and oil, located in Escuintla.
The industrial complex located at kilometer 97, highway to Puerto Quetzal, Escuintla, will process all types of waste, such as fish heads, skeletons, bones, bone parts and viscera.
Integral Fruits & Co., a company of Ecuadorian origin, plans to invest in the country close to $6 million in the construction of two aquaculture farms and the production of different types of fruit.
One of the projects that the company will execute will begin in mid-2020 and consists of the construction of a farm with 64 swimming pools dedicated to the cultivation of tilapia, white shrimp, snapper and cod.
In Guatemala, Rianxeira company expects to have in operation in August, its new plant for transforming fish waste into flour.
The company, which is currently exporting tuna loins and concentrates, reported that the investment in the new production line of the plant in Escuintla, amounts to $2 million and that the raw material to be used will be fish heads, skeletons, bones, bone parts and viscera.
Between February 2016 and June 2018, the average price of Central American exports of prepared and preserved fish increased 38%, from $3.72 to $5.13 per kilo.
Figures from the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphic"]
In the first quarter of the year sales of prepared and preserved fish from Central America totaled $34 million, and exports to the European country grew by 14% compared to the same period in 2017.
Figures from the information system on the Market for Fish Preparations and Canned Fish in Central America, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with graph"]
Spain, Mexico and the United States are some of the markets to which companies in Guatemala export fishery products, registering earnings of more than $36 million so far this year.
From a statement issued by the Guatemalan Exporters Association:
Among the main export markets of Guatemalan fishery products in terms of value in 2018, are: Spain, Mexico, the United States, France and Canada.
In 2017, the value of Central American sales of fish, molluscs and crustaceans to companies in Mexico amounted to $69 million, 19% more than was exported in 2016.
Figures from the information system on the the Market for Fish, Molluscs and Crustaceans in Central America, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with graph"]
The incorporation of products with high added value such as shrimp covered with coconut, breaded shrimp and scampi, contributed to the fishing and aquaculture sector of Guatemala closing 2017 with exports worth over $200 million.
For 2018, growth of 7% is expected with respect to 2017 in the export of products from the Aquaculture and Fisheries sector, and work is planned on opening up new markets such as China, Canada, South Korea and Russia.
In 2016 sales of prepared and preserved fish from Central America totaled $110 million, and sales to the European country grew by 52% compared to 2015.
Figures from the information system on the Market for Prepared and Conserved Fishin Central America, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with the graph"]
In 2016 the value of exports of fish, molluscs and crustaceans reached $714 million, equivalent in volume to 114 thousand tons, 8% less than the amount sold in 2015.
Figures from the information system on thethe Market for Fish, Molluscs and Crustaceans in Central America, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit atCentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with the graph"]
In the first quarter of the year, exports of shrimp, tuna, tilapia and dorado totaled $18 million, an increase of 44% compared to the same period in 2016.
Figures from Agexport point out that from January to March 2017, the main fishery products exportedwere: shrimp, tuna, tilapia and dorado.
The Americas Tuna Conference 2016 (AMatuna2016) is a two-day tuna industry event that will take place in Panama City, Panama on January 28th and 29th at the Riu Plaza Hotel.
The Americas Tuna Conference 2016 (AMatuna2016) is a two-day tuna industry event that will take place in Panama City, Panama on January 28th and 29th at the Riu Plaza Hotel.
From November 9th to 13th companies in the sector will be meeting in Panama City to discuss issues related to sustainable use of marine resources and innovation in fishing methods.
The Fisheries Institute of the Gulf and the Caribbean reports that "... the focus of the event which will be "Two oceans, same coastal issues," reflects the interest of the membership of the GCFI, to include their peers from the Eastern Tropical Pacific (Costa American Pacific from southern Baja California in Mexico to northern Peru) at the annual meetings, with the intention of optimizing experiences and sharing lessons learned from facing similar problems, challenges and opportunities on both coasts of the Americas.