For the second quarter of 2021, Guatemala was ranked as the main buyer of confectionery and chocolates in Central America, the largest supplier of these products was the United States.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graphic"]
From January to September 2020, Central American countries imported $211 million for confectionery, chocolates and other cocoa-based preparations, an amount that is 17% lower than what was reported during the same period in 2019.
Data from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graph"]
In the first half of 2020, Central American countries imported $140 million worth of candies, chocolates and other cocoa-based preparations, and purchases from Chinese companies exceeded by 13% what was reported during the same period of 2019.
Data from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graph"]
Based on the willingness of Costa Rican authorities to raise the tariff on imported sugar from 45% to 73%, Brazil decided to raise the entry taxes on four animal products from Costa Rica.
Months ago, the private sector has been warning of the possibility that the country's trading partners would apply reciprocal measures because of Costa Rica's unilateral decision to raise entry taxes on imported sugar.
In the first semester of 2019, countries of the region imported $166 million for candies, chocolates and other cocoa-based preparations, and purchases from Colombian companies are 12% higher than those reported during the same period in 2018.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphics"]
To stop competing with low prices, companies in Honduras focus on improving the quality of the grain they produce.
In the last few days on the New York Stock Exchange the ton of cocoa has been quoted at about $2,655, however, the better quality produced in the country allows companies like Chocolats Halba to pay local producers $4,000 per ton.
Luis Velex, manager of Chocolats Halba, a company that began operations in Honduras in 2008, told Laprensa.hn that "... Before we came here, there wasn't even a pound of fine chocolate produced here. This post-harvest process was taught, and our technicians follow up to ensure that the quality is maintained."
In the first quarter of 2019, the countries of the region imported 31,943 tons of candies, chocolates and other cocoa-based preparations, a volume 6% higher than that reported during the same period in 2018.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAPHIC caption="Click to interact with graphic"]
After last year's sales of grain abroad grew 19% compared to 2017, in the first eight months of 2019 Nicaraguan cocoa exports totaled $5.8 million, 48% more than in the same period of 2018.
Regarding the volume traded, the figures of the Exports Processing Center (Cetrex) that between January and August 2018 and the same period of 2019, the figure increased from 2,433 to 3,405 tons.
In 2018, countries in the region imported candies, chocolates and other cocoa-based preparations for $348 million, 2% more than was reported during 2017.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphic"]
In the first nine months of 2018, countries in the region imported candies, chocolates and other cocoa-based preparations for $249 million, 2% more than in the first half of 2017.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphics]
The new 720 square meter industrial plant is located at kilometer 93 of the international highway from San Pedro Sula to La Entrada and required a $2 million investment.
The company reported that the new plant will manufacture 18 varieties of XOL brand gourmet chocolate, which will be exported to markets in Europe and America.
Even though in 2018 cocoa was better quoted internationally, the volume sold abroad fell 8% compared to 2017, going down from 4,238 to 3,886 tons.
In contrast to the negative variation in the volume traded, figures from the Export Processing Center (Cetrex) detail that between 2017 and 2018 the value of exports registered a 18.9% growth, increasing from $5.3 million to $6.3 million. This increase is explained by the behavior of the grain price.
In the first six months of the year, countries in the region imported candies, chocolates and other cocoa-based products for $167 million, 3% more than in the first half of 2017.
Figures from the information system on the Candy and Chocolate Market in Central America compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphic"]
Producers in El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala, will have a processing plant, technical assistance and a global distribution network.
The funds from the Italian-Latin American International Organization (IILA) and the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) are part of the project entitled "Revitalization of the quality cocoa chain in Central America and the Caribbean."
In the first quarter of 2018 companies in Costa Rica imported $9 million worth of candies and chocolates, 4% more than in the same period in 2017.
Figures from the information system of the Confectionery and Chocolate Market in Costa Rica, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption= "Click to interact with graph"]
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