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.
During the first month of the year, Nicaraguan seafood exports totaled $16.7 million, 19% less than what was reported in the same month in 2019, a situation explained by the decline in demand from Asia and the U.S., important destinations for this sector.
According to data from the Center for Export Processing (Cetrex), between January 2019 and the same month of 2020 exports of seafood products recorded a fall of $ 4 million, from $ 16.7 million to $ 20.7 million.
Although between January and September 2019, Nicaraguan exports grew 2% compared to the same period in 2018, businessmen say it is because of an atypical behavior of gold and fish sales, not a general improvement.
According to figures from the Center for Export Procedures (Cetrex), between January and September 2018 and the same period in 2019, sales of companies in Nicaragua abroad went from $2.075 million to $2.108 million.
Nicaragua's fishing and aquaculture production in 2019 will be close to 175 million pounds, 6% less than production in 2018.
In the Production, Consumption and Trade Plan for the 2019-2020 cycle, the government expects a 6.4% year-on-year decline, mainly because of the implementation of management and sustainability measures for sea cucumbers, such as the closure of two additional months for all species and the permanent closure for cucumber, Café y Carajo, explains the document.
Because Nicaragua is charging an additional fee of $0.05 for each kilogram exported or imported by air, fresh fish exporters have increased their costs and become less competitive.
Last April 25, the International Airport Administration Companies (EAAI) of Nicaragua began to collect the new tax. See "More costs in Times of Crisis".
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"]
In the context of the difficult situation that Nicaragua is facing, the Ortega administration has announced its projections for agroindustrial production, consumption and trade for the period 2018 -2019.
From a statement issued by the Central Bank of Nicaragua:
August 15, 2018.Authorities at the National System of Production, Consumption and Trade (SNPCC) of the Government of Nicaragua presented to the Central Bank of Nicaragua (BCN), the Production, Consumption and Trade Plan corresponding to the 2018-2019 cycle.
After the country registered sales for $282 million in 2017, the sector's union expects this year to surpass what was reported in the previous period by 2%.
Explained by the good performance in exports of cultivated shrimp, crab and live lobster, during the first three months of the year, the Nicaraguan Institute of Fisheries and Aquaculture (Inpesca) expects the sector to register an increase compared to 2017.
According to projections by the Nicaraguan fishing sector, this year growth could be explained, mainly, by the performance of the production of lobster, sea cucumber and fish.
After the local fishing industry registered $282 million in sales abroad in 2017, the Central Bank of Nicaragua and the Nicaraguan Institute of Fisheries and Aquaculture (Inpesca) jointly prepared a projection for 2018, the result of which is an expectation that the sector will grow 7.5%.
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 industry union expects to close 2017 with 5% growth in production, and plans to focus next year on improving processes in order to increase productivity.
One of the changes proposed by fishing and aquaculture companies is to improve production processes of products such as lobster, which require special logistics,"...
In the first seven months of the year exports of farmed shrimp, sea shrimp, lobster and fresh fish generated $56 million, 18% more than in the same period in 2016.
Figures from the Central Bank show that the product which led foreign sales was shrimp, with $23.5 million, followed by lobster, with $16.8 million, fresh fish with $12.6 million, and sea shrimp, with $3.3 million.