After four years of registering reductions in purchases of fertilizer from abroad, in 2017 the country imported $146 million worth, 20% more than was reported in 2016.
Figures from the information system on the Central American Fertilizer Market, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with the graph"]
In 2016, Costa Rica imported $142 million worth of fertilizers, 23% less than the $183 million worth imported in 2015.
Figures from the information system on the the Fertilizer Market in Costa Rica, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with the graph"]
In the last five years, the average price of a kilo of fertilizers imported in the countries in the region fell by 43%, going from $0.54 to $0.31.
Figures from the information system on thethe fertilizer market in Central America, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit atCentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with the graph"]
Between January 2012 and December 2016, the average price of a kilogram of fertilizer imported into the country fell from $0.65 to $0.37.
Figures from the information system on the the Market for Fertilizers in Central America, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Clic para interactuar con la gráfica"]
Between January and September 2016 the volume of regional fertilizer imports from the Asian country grew by 17% compared to the same period in 2015.
Figures from the information system on the the Fertilizer Market in Central America, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmerica Data : [GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with the graph"]
The new regulations will come into force in July 2017 and state that pesticide registrations can be renewed for equal consecutive periods of ten years and must be processed in the six months prior to their expiration.
Agricultural entrepreneurs expect the newregulationpublished yesterday in the official newspaper La Gaceta to start solving bureaucratic problems that have affected the sector for years, as before now they had to wait several months to complete the process for registering products.
It has been estimated that in 2017 the sector producing and selling agricultural chemicals will achieve a performance similar to that of 2016, having ended the year with growth of 15% in sales.
The dynamism of agricultural activity in the country is the main reason behind the good performance of the agrochemical sector.Although official figures for the close of 2016 are not yet known, entrepreneurs estimate that growth was achieved in sales of around 15%.
In 2015 the countries of the region imported $800 million worth of fertilizers, led by Guatemala, which bought 658 thousand tons, equivalent to $240 million.
Figureson the fertilizers market in CentralAmerica, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData.com show that imports from all countries in 2015 amounted to 2 million tons, at a value of $803 million.
The Guatemalan Disagro has announced the purchase of the shares of Pacific Fertilizers, dedicated to the import and marketing of agricultural fertilizers, with operations in Costa Rica and Panama.
It has been reported that the Guatemalan firm announced the acquisition on November 20, and it is subject to consideration by the Commission for the Promotion of Competition (COPROCOM) in Costa Rica.
In Nicaragua for every cultivated hectare, 39 kilos of fertilizer are used, in Panama the figure is 50 kilos, in Honduras, 58, in Guatemala, 97, in El Salvador, 135, and in Costa Rica, 264 kilos.
The study "State of the Global Food and Agriculture", by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), details not only the use of fertilizer per hectare in Central America, but also the proportion of the value added in agriculture in each country.
The Guatemalan National Development Fund has awarded to the company Fertilizantes Maya S.A. a contract for the supply of fertilizers for agricultural use.
An offer was also received from the company Tigsa Fertilizantes S.A. in the amount of $30.2 million, but the award was given to the company that submitted the lowest bid, Fertilizantes Maya S.A., worth $25 million.
The government is considering purchasing food instead of fertilizers for distribution to the public if the projections of drought in the months ahead continue.
According to studies conducted by NASA, this year could see drought conditions similar to those in the last few years, therefore government officials are assessing whether to tender foods instead of fertilizers.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food announced it will be buying 1.74 million bags of fertilizer, in order to start delivery of fertilizer in April.
From a statement issued by the Government of Guatemala:
The Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Food (MAGA), Elmer López, reported that in the second half of April it will begin distributing fertilizers to more than 1.7 million farmers nationwide.
A reduction in crop yields due to the lack of rain is affecting the marketing of these products, in cases such as herbicides, there has been a 40% drop in sales.
Less demand for fertilizers, herbicides and other agrochemicals needed to tend crops is causing an increase in inventories kept by marketers and generating greater downward pressure on the price of such products.
The government will be allocating $22 million to buy 858,000 sacks of fertilizer, in direct form, after drawbacks in negotiations with the company Disagro.
"... without being subject to the requirements of a tender and quotes" and "... with no more requirements so that the state can get prices and terms that are reasonable", the agreement of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food (MAGA) determined that the adjudication process for fertilizers must be terminated within a period of 90 days, being financed by the National Trust Development Fund (FONADES).
español
7288
