In the first six months of 2019, fertilizer imports from countries in the region totaled $439 million, and purchases from Russian companies grew 29% over the same period in 2018.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graphic"]
During the first three months of 2019, companies in Central American countries imported insecticides, herbicides and fungicides for $132 million, and purchases from Mexican companies grew 12% over the same period in 2018.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAPHIC caption="Click to interact with graphic"]
Subscriptions: Regional Purchases up to March 2019
In the first three months of 2019, fertilizer purchases by countries in the region totaled $189 million, 7% more than reported imports in the same period in 2018.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAPHIC caption="Click to interact with graphic"]
The government of El Salvador announced that it will invest $3 million in the delivery of 40,775 liters of fungicides and 30,000 liters of insecticides to combat and prevent the Coffee Rust and Coffee Borer.
In order to receive the inputs, coffee growers must meet several requirements, the most important of which is to be registered with the Salvadoran Coffee Council (CSC) and to have a valid identity card, informed the Ministry of Agriculture.
With the entry into force of the tax reform, banana production costs in Nicaragua have increased between 30% and 35%, because of the rise in the price of agrochemicals.
During 2018, companies in Central American countries imported insecticides, herbicides and fungicides for $671 million, 3% less than they bought in 2017.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphic"]
The Directorate of Agricultural Science and Technology tenders the supply of fertilizers, bactericides, pH regulators and adherents, rooting agents, sterile substratum, fungicides, insecticides and herbicides.
Although in Costa Rica the procedures for approving new pesticides that enter the market should take a few weeks, there are processes that have not been processed for more than ten years, which prevents increasing and improving the supply of products.
The State Phytosanitary Service (SFE), which is part of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, accumulates dozens of files that are still pending approval, including some that have been waiting for more than a decade.
The transnational UPL announced the acquisition of Industrias BioQuim Centroamericanas S.A., a company dedicated to the manufacture and commercialization of agrochemicals.
This acquisition, which was made through UPL Costa Rica S.A., is the first made by the transnational UPL in the region.
Between the first semester of 2018 and the same period of 2019, the volume sold of fertilizers and agrochemicals fell by 13%, a decrease explained by the political crisis reported since April last year.
Figures estimated by the Association of Formulators and Distributors of Agrochemicals (Anifoda), specify that this is the second year that decreases in sales are reported, because between the first half of 2017 and the same period of 2018, the volume of fertilizer sold fell by 5%, falling from 110 thousand tons to 104 thousand tons.
Last year, fertilizer purchases by countries in the region totaled $806 million, 6% more than what was reported in 2017, a rise explained by an increase in the average price of imports.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphic"]
From January to September 2018, countries in the region imported $530 million worth of insecticides, herbicides and fungicides, and 46% were bought by companies in Guatemala and Costa Rica.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphics]
Guatemalan Foragro, manufacturer of insecticides, fungicides and herbicides, opened a branch in Panama and aims in the short term to position 50 products in the local market.
The company reported that for the opening of its branch in the Panamanian market invested $300,000 and that this would have a presence in all Central American countries, as they already operate in El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica.
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