Due to restrictions on mobility, the increase in online shopping and changes in consumer habits, the volume of international and local package movements in Costa Rica is showing an upward trend.
Due to the spread of covid-19, Costa Rican authorities decided to restrict people's mobility and impose social distancing measures. These factors were determining factors for consumers to begin changing their purchasing habits.
Hugo App, a platform for home delivery services, is one of the companies that accelerated its growth due to the mobility restrictions that have been decreed in the countries of the region because of the health crisis.
In order to contain the spread of covid-19, governments in Central America have decreed mandatory quarantines and restricted the movement of consumers at certain times.
In Costa Rica, DHL Global plans to expand its storage center in Alajuela, for which it will invest about $5.5 million over the next seven years.
Representatives of the company reported that the investment will include workstations, handling equipment, selective racks, fire protection system, surveillance cameras and security.
Rodrigo Jalil, CEO DHL Costa Rica, explained to Elfinancierocr.com that "...
The parcel forwarding companies JetBox, Box Correos and Aeropost reported increases of between 12% and 35% in the number of packages shipped in the last three years.
The boom in Internet shopping has led leading delivery companies to open new delivery points and invest in technology in order to improve the service for end-users.
Businessmen are complaining about erroneous charges being levied by Customs on exempted companies, courier shipments or cargo that does not even reach the borders.
The incorrect application of the new rules on the charge of $18 which applies in Salvadoran customs offices for the use of X-rays starting from 1 January 2016, is causing problems and provoked a reaction by seven private sector unions that form the Intergremial Commission for Trade Facilitation (Cifacil).
The company DHL has announced that starting January 2015 that the average increase in prices in Guatemala, Costa Rica and Panama will be 4.9%.
From a statement issued by DHL:
DHL Express, provider of the world's leading international express services, today announced an overall increase in average rates globally, effective from January 1, 2015. The average increase in prices in Guatemala will be 4.9% (also applicable to Costa Rica and Panama).
Increasing competition has forced five major companies sharing the market to diversify their services beyond simple forwarding of packages.
From online shopping and home delivery to options to pay utility bills; these are part of the services for which several companies are in the industry are counting on to maintain competitiveness against their peers in the market of courier services in Costa Rica.
The company founded on Colombian capital, Servientrega, announced its entry into the Costa Rican market in 2013, as part of its expansion plans.
Luz Mary Guerrero, president of the company said to the Colombian newspaper Portfolio that entry into Costa Rica is part of its expansion plans which include opening offices in Canada and Spain.
Nacion.com quoted Luz Mary Guerrero who said, "We are doing this first with the shipping operations, which is the area where we are strongest, for example at the level of the Andean region ... We are well advanced in these countries, the truth is that Servientrega’s business model is well consolidated and we are doing well. "
Internet shopping, which had declined after the decision of the Ministry of Finance to charge tariffs on these operations, has regained momentum and grew again by 10%.
An article in Nacion.com reports that "A little less than a year ago, confusion reigned over internet purchases. When "Black Friday " drew near in November 2011, the Ministry of Finance announced that all purchases made using this method and from abroad, would incur tariffs.
In 2006 the state run company Correos de Costa Rica was dying, but an aggressive policy of diversification of services has made it the main competitor in the courier market today.
For the month of August Correos de Costa Rica announced the launch of Box Correos, in direct competition with the specialized companies Aerocasillas, JetBox, DHL, Speed Box and E-Package Express.
Founded in 1931 with one single-engine Stinson plane, TACA Cargo offers specialized cargo and courier services.
Eighty years later we bridge the Three Americas serving customers at 42 destinations in 22 countries in North, Central, South America and the Caribbean, including flights to Toronto, Canada and nine major U.S. cities. Among our destinations are New York, Los Angeles, Washington DC, Buenos Aires, Santiago de Chile, Sao Paulo, Lima, Quito, Bogota, Caracas, and Santo Domingo.
Organization that operates in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama
Phone: (281) 443 1808
español
5245
