From January to June 2020, companies from Central American countries exported frozen shrimp and prawns for $60 million, and sales to the United Kingdom grew by 36% compared to the same period in 2019.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Area of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphic"]
Because in today's business reality many people prefer to spend more time at home and cook their own food, the demand for easy-to-prepare processed seafood has grown.
At a global level, changes in consumer behavior have been reported, because of the quarantines decreed in several countries of the world by the outbreak of covid-19, people's habits, tastes and preferences have been changing.
From January to March 2020, companies from Central American countries exported frozen shrimp and prawns for $60 million, and sales to Taiwan grew by 56% compared to the same period in 2019.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphic"]
During the first half of 2020, shrimp exports to Taiwan totaled 7.8 million pounds, a volume that is 75% higher than that reported for the same period in 2019.
Figures from the National Association of Aquaculture Producers of Honduras (Andah) show that the Taiwanese market is one of the most consolidated in recent years, since between the first half of 2019 and the same period of 2020, exports of Honduran shrimp to that destination increased by 3.36 million pounds, from 4.44 to 7.79 million pounds.
Nearby CIFCO, in San Salvador, is a sales point that, at a distance of 15 minutes walking, holds a captive market of 23 thousand people who together spend $6.5 million, and of them, 10% show interest in seafood.
In CentralAmericaData we developed a geomarketing tool based on interactive maps, through which you can identify where people are and what characteristics they have as consumers. The map incorporates, for any Central American country, the variables population, income, average monthly expenditure and consumer interests. With this information, it is possible to identify potential clients and define promotional strategies accordingly, or also explore home delivery times from any sales point.
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.
From January to June 2019, companies in Central American countries exported frozen shrimp and prawns for $116 million, and sales to the United Kingdom grew by 19% over the same period in 2018.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphics"]
Honduran producers estimate that at the end of 2019 the volume traded abroad will register a reduction of six million pounds compared to what was reported in the previous year.
Directors of the National Association of Aquiculturists of Honduras (Andah), explained that one of the factors that has affected the sector are the low prices that are recorded internationally.
From January to March 2019, companies from Central American countries exported frozen shrimp and prawns for $59 million, and sales to the United Kingdom grew 39% over the same period in 2018.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAPHIC caption="Click to interact with graphic"]
A week after suspending operations because of extortion by local criminal groups, Nova Guatemala decided to restart operations on 19 August.
Days ago it was reported that because of the insecurity conditions in the municipality of Champerico, in Retalhuleu, the company had decided to suspend its operation.
However, after reaching an agreement that the National Civil Police and elements of the Army provide surveillance to the facilities, it was decided to resume production activities.
The shrimp company Nova Guatemala, which has been operating for more than 20 years in Champerico, Retalhuleu, has been closed since Aug. 12 because of the extortion it suffers from criminal groups.
Representatives of the Guatemalan Association of Exporters (Agexport) reported that the affected company has approached in search of support, but the details of the case are kept confidential.
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 the first two months of the year, shrimp sales from Honduras abroad totaled $35 million, surpassing the $29 million recorded in the same period in 2018.
Figures from Honduran businessmen detail that between the first two months of 2018 and the same period of 2019, the volume exported increased from 9 million pounds to 11 million pounds.
Victor Wilson, president of the National Association of Honduran Aqua culturists, told Elheraldo.hn that "... the export goal of 58.5 million pounds by 2019 is maintained. In 2018, exports totaled $216.5 million."
In the first nine months of last year, Central American countries exported frozen shrimp and prawns for $321 million, 17% more than in the same period in 2017.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphic"]