By 2021, a recovery of the paper and cardboard sector is observed, reaching $2,471 million, equivalent to 1,942,360 tons, with the main supplier being the United States of America market with $837 million.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graphic"]
During the third quarter of 2021, purchases made by Central America increased by almost 50% to $136 million, with Guatemala being the largest supplier with $38 million in sales to the region.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graphic"]
During the first quarter of 2021, a progressive drop was reflected during the last three years, reaching $491 million in paper and cardboard purchases.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graphic"]
During 2020, paper and cardboard imports of Central American companies amounted to $1,931 million, and purchases from Chilean companies increased 5% compared to what was reported in 2019.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graph"]
Due to the closure of a company engaged in the manufacture of packaging and the shortage of raw materials, it is expected that in May and June companies in Nicaragua will face a scenario in which shortages and high prices will predominate.
From January to September 2020 Central America allocated $92 million to the import of paper or corrugated cardboard boxes, and purchases from Mexico increased 125% over what was reported in the same period of 2019.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graph"]
After the Nicaraguan company Astro Packing Solution announced an indefinite closure of its operations, local companies predict that packaging will become more expensive in the coming weeks and will be forced to look for new suppliers in neighboring countries.
In Nicaragua, Astro Packing Solution, a company involved in the manufacture of packaging and plastic products, notified its clients that it will close indefinitely due to a shortage of raw materials.
CentralAmericaData anticipated this scenario in mid-February. According to a publication dated February 15, due to the shortage of raw materials and the bottlenecks in the production of the inputs demanded by the plastics industry, businessmen in the region predicted that in the coming months the prices of the products manufactured by the sector would increase.
Between January and June 2020, paper and cardboard imports in Central America totaled $1,019 million, 10% less than in the same period of 2019, with Honduras and El Salvador being the markets that registered the most significant reductions.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graphic"]
In the first semester of 2020, Central American companies destined $62 million to the purchase of paper or corrugated cardboard boxes, 6% less than what was registered in the same period of 2019.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graphic"]
From January to July 2020, Central American companies imported $62 million in paper and cardboard from Mexico, 28% less than in the same period in 2019, a decrease that can be explained by the drop in purchases in all markets in the region.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphic"]
Between January and March 2020, paper and cardboard imports in Central America totaled $528 million, 9% less than in the same period in 2019, with Guatemala and Honduras being the markets that registered the most significant reductions.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphic"]
From January to April 2020, Central American companies imported $39 million in paper and cardboard from Mexico, and 55% of the total was purchased by companies in Guatemala and Costa Rica.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphic"]
If quarantine and mobility restriction measures are extended by two months, annualized demand for carton packaging in the region is forecast to decline by 9% in 2020, and if extended by three months, the decline could be as much as 13%.
The "Information System for the Impact Analysis of Covid-19 on Business", prepared by the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData, measures the degree of impact that the crisis will have on companies according to their sector or economic activity, considering several scenarios for the coming months.
Between January and September 2019, paper and cardboard imports in Central America totaled $1.46 billion, 9% less than the same period in 2018, with Costa Rica and Honduras being the markets that registered the most significant reductions.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphics"]