Rayovac Closes Factory in Guatemala

Monday, December 21, 2020

After nearly seven decades of operating in the Central American country, the company dedicated to the manufacture of batteries and lighting decided to close its production plant and moved its operations to Brazil.

The restructuring of its operations comes two years after Energizer Holdings Inc agreed to buy the battery and lighting business of Spectrum Brands Holdings Inc. With this acquisition, Energizer absorbed the Varta and Rayovac brands.

New Economic Development Zone Endorsed

Friday, December 18, 2020

In Guatemala, the Miel Verde project, Special Public Economic Zone, was approved. In its first phase of development, it will require an investment of close to $4 million and will be located in the municipality of Río Hondo, department of Zacapa.

The new special zone will have a total area of 23,544 square meters, however, in the first phase only an area of approximately 5,173 square meters will be developed.

PepsiCo Operates New Distribution Center

Thursday, December 17, 2020

The industrial complex that began operating in October 2020 in the municipality of Villa Nueva, department of Guatemala, has an area of 43,500 square meters, an installed capacity of 12,000 pallets and required an investment of approximately $27 million.

The new logistics center has 29 dispatch doors and a system of product selection through automated voice command, informed the company dedicated to the commercialization of carbonated beverages and snacks.

Gold: $50 Million Investment in Industrial Plant

Wednesday, December 16, 2020

Condor Gold, a British company that for 14 years has carried out exploration work in the province of León, in Nicaragua, announced that in 2021 it will invest in the construction of a metal processing plant.

According to company executives, the new industrial plant to be located in the municipality of Santa Rosa del Penon, will have the capacity to process 1,500 tons per day and the company is expected to start exporting by 2022.

Costa Rica: Intel to Reopen Assembly Operations

Thursday, December 10, 2020

The company announced that over the next three years it plans to invest $350 million in the start-up of chip assembly and testing operations.

Grupo Lala Reorganizes Operations in Central America

Thursday, December 3, 2020

Arguing that there is greater potential for sustainable and profitable expansion in Nicaragua and Guatemala, the Mexican business group dedicated to dairy production decided to close the operations of its production plant in Costa Rica.

Although at the beginning of 2019 Lala announced that it had invested $14 million in the purchase of high-tech machinery and in the expansion of its dairy plant in San Ramón, province of Alajuela, on December 1, 2020 it reported that they decided to close operations.

Medical Devices: New Investment in Costa Rica

Wednesday, December 2, 2020

Between 2020 and 2023 Nevro plans to invest $21 million in the commissioning of an industrial plant of more than 3 thousand square meters in the Coyol Free Zone, in Alajuela.

The company based in California, United States, is dedicated to the manufacture of medical devices that are demanded by patients suffering from debilitating chronic pain, reported the Costa Rican Coalition of Development Initiatives (Cinde).

Textile Industry: $20 Million Investment Announced

Friday, November 27, 2020

In Guatemala, a Korean business group plans to invest in the start-up of a fabric factory in the municipality of Villa Nueva.

The fabrics that will be manufactured in the new industrial plant will be specialized and will supply other factories in the region, informed authorities and businessmen of the sector.

Glass Bottles: $100 Million for New Factory

Thursday, November 12, 2020

In the Dominican Republic, the companies Caribbean Glass Industry and Cerveceria Nacional Dominicana will build a production plant that will have the capacity to manufacture 500 million glass bottles per year.

The new production plant will be located in the municipality of Pedro Brand, which belongs to the province of Santo Domingo. According to the investors, the factory is expected to begin its operational phase in February 2021.

Costa Rica: 3M Closes Production Plant

Monday, November 9, 2020

The U.S. company, which still operates a plant in the country for the production of sandpaper and adhesive tapes, has begun the process of relocating its operations, which includes the closure of the factory operating in Heredia.

According to information released by the company, the closure of the industrial complex located in Santa Rosa de Heredia, follows a business strategy and is not a consequence of the economic crisis that generated the outbreak of covid-19.

Logistics Center: $150 Million Investment Plan

Thursday, September 3, 2020

In a 30-hectare lot located five kilometers from the Container Terminal in Moin, Costa Rica, construction will begin in the first half of 2021, a logistics complex that will focus on the management of local or imported cargo.

The project, called "Plataforma Logística Caribe" (PLACA), will be placed near Route 32, the road section from Limón to San José.

Industry: New Developments in Free Zone

Thursday, August 27, 2020

In order to house companies that are about to start operations or for companies that need to expand their operations in Coyol Free Zone, the Costa Rican industrial complex is building new infrastructure for an area equivalent to 67,347 square meters.

According to information disseminated by the industrial park located in Alajuela, Costa Rica, 17,725 square meters are currently being built, corresponding to new expansion processes of companies already installed and requiring more physical space to operate.

Industry: Real Estate Construction is up 3%

Friday, August 21, 2020

From January to June of this year, the constructed area of warehouses and other industrial properties in Costa Rica increased by 58,273 square meters compared to the same period in 2019, which is equivalent to an annual increase of 3%.

Colliers, a firm specialized in real estate, informed that as well as the built area, the availability of spaces in the Costa Rican market also increased. The study specifies that as of June of this year the space of industrial properties without renting was located in 221,156 m2, which is equivalent to a 50% increase with respect to what was reported in June 2019.

Industry: Forecast for Guatemala

Thursday, August 13, 2020

After the industrial activity registered in May one of the lowest levels of the last years, it is expected that the sector will close 2020 in negative variations, but more moderate than those reported in the first half of the year.

The Index of Economic Activity of the Chamber of Industry of Guatemala, which is calculated by Central American Business Intelligence (Cabi), states that during May and in the context of the economic crisis resulting from the outbreak of covid-19, fell by about 10% when compared to the same period in 2019.

Solar Energy: Project in Industrial Park

Friday, July 10, 2020

IDB Invest granted an $8 million loan to American Industrial Park, owner of an industrial park in El Salvador, to invest in expansion works and the installation of a photovoltaic park for self-powered electricity generation.

The financing, with an 11-year term, will enable American Industrial Park (AIP) to maintain its competitiveness over the medium term by expanding its 17,000 square meter industrial roof. This will enhance the development of this new industrial area, reported BID Invest, a member of the IDB Group.