The second quarter of 2021 shows an increase in fertilizer imports in the Central American region in monetary values, representing $521 million in purchases in this market, mainly from China.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graphic"]
In the first quarter there was a decrease in purchases from the Central American region of 8% in imported value, however, Russia remained the largest supplier with 21% of sales.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graphic"]
Following the detection of an outbreak of giant African snail in Costa Rica, in the community of Curubande in the canton of Liberia in Guanacaste, local authorities declared a National Phytosanitary Emergency.
The objective of this declaration is to prevent the spread of the plague, putting at risk the national agriculture, public health and the environment, informed the State Phytosanitary Service (SFE).
Last year, Central America assigned $784 million to fertilizer imports, 4% more than in 2019, with Nicaragua, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador being the markets that accounted for the increase in regional purchases.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="fertilizer"].
During last year, Central American companies imported insecticides, herbicides and fungicides for $808 million, 30% more than what was reported in 2019, a rise that is explained by the behavior of purchases from all markets in the region.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graph"]
During the first nine months of 2020, companies in Central American countries imported insecticides, herbicides and fungicides for $617 million, 30% more than what was reported in the same period of 2019, a rise that is explained by the behavior of purchases from all markets in the region.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graph"]
Between January and June 2020, Central America allocated $448 million to fertilizer imports, 2% more than the same period in 2019. Nicaragua, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador were the markets that explained the increase in regional purchases.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphic"]
Because in this context of new commercial reality the sales of alcohol, fertilizers, soaps, detergents and chemical and pharmaceutical products have increased, the productive activity of the Central American industrial sector has been dynamized.
According to figures from the Bank of Guatemala, during the III Quarter of 2020 the Guatemalan Gross Domestic Product reported -2% year-on-year variation, a behavior that contrasts with the evolution of the manufacturing industry, which for the period in question registered a 3% increase in its production.
Because Mexico is the third largest Latin American country in terms of area devoted to organic agricultural production, there are multiple opportunities to market inputs for this sector.
In terms of the number of hectares planted with organic crops, Michoacan, Chiapas and Oaxaca are the states that have 68% of the total planted nationally, according to an analysis prepared by Costa Rica's Foreign Trade Promotion Agency (Procomer).
Because of the rains generated in Central American countries by Hurricane Eta, authorities warn that coffee plantations could be threatened by the spread of pests or diseases.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG) of El Salvador issued recommendations for coffee growers to avoid the spread of diseases on their farms, such as rust fungus and anthracnose.
Due to the possible change in the regulations established by the European Union on the use of agrochemicals in the production of the fruit that enters their territory, exporters in the region are on the alert for the possible complications that this would generate in the commercialization.
In order to protect the health of consumers, European authorities could vary the maximum residue limits (MRL's) that food entering the region may contain.
In the first seven months of 2020, companies in the countries of the region imported fertilizers from Mexico for $27 million, 14% less than what was reported for the same period in 2019, a decrease that can be explained by the decrease in purchases by Guatemalan and Costa Rican companies.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graph"]
Between January and March 2020, Central America allocated $169 million to fertilizer imports, 10% less than in the same period in 2018, with Costa Rica, El Salvador and Guatemala being the markets that registered the most significant reductions.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graph"]
Because the Ecuadorian market is highly dependent on imports and its local industry is incipient, there are opportunities for bulk exports and packaging in the South American country.
To enter the market, products can be sold to distribution companies, whether these register the products themselves under their own brand, import in bulk/concentrate, repackage and distribute, or do so under the manufacturer's brand and import and distribute ready-to-retail products (this can be on an exclusive basis), explains a study by the Foreign Trade Promotion Agency (Procomer).
From January to March 2020, companies in the countries of the region imported from Mexico fertilizers for $19 million, an amount that exceeds in 722% the reported in the same period of 2019.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphic"]