In September, price increases were more pronounced for vegetable oils and cereals, and for dairy products prices remained stable, while sugar and meat prices fell from their August levels.
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reported that in September 2020 the food price index averaged 97.9 points, i.e., 2% more than in August and already 4.6% above its value a year ago.
"If we overcome the mental barrier of commoditization, identifying and communicating those added values going beyond our basic proposal, we will have the opportunity to take our profitability to another level."
Ariel Banos, founder of Fijaciondeprecios.com explains that when a proposal is a commodity, in other words, it lacks differentiation with respect to others offered in the market, the only alternative is to align itself with the prices charged by competitors. There are no magic solutions.
Explained by the uncertainty reported in the markets due to covid-19 disease, in June 2020 the global food price index registered a 2% variation from the previous month.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) reported that due to market uncertainty caused by covid-19 disease, prices of vegetable oils, sugar and dairy products rebounded to their highest level in several months after sharp declines in May, while in the cereals and meat markets most prices came under downward pressure.
In Guatemala since April 12, interactions in the digital environment associated with the purchase of vehicles has rebounded; however, in April and May, prices of cars and pickups grew more slowly compared to the number reportes on the first quarter of the year.
Through a system that monitors in real time changes in price levels, interests and consumer preferences in Central American countries, developed by CentralAmericaData, it is possible to project short and long term demand trends for the different products, sectors and markets operating in the region.
Discounts and offers, increase in the price level generally and the rise in operating costs due to new health and safety protocols are the main threats to the profitability of companies in this new commercial reality.
Given this context of economic and health crisis, which derives from the outbreak of covid-19 at the global level, Ariel Baños, a specialist in price management and founder of Fijaciondeprecios.com, explains what are the main threats that could affect the profitability levels of companies, and details some strategies that could be applied to mitigate the adverse effects.
After the Economic Activity Confidence Index reported a 19% drop in March 2020, in April the situation worsened with a -43% year-on-year variation, a drop that agrees with the advance of the health crisis in the country.
In April 2020, the level of the Economic Activity Confidence Index stood at 32.64 points, 43.25% lower than that recorded in March 2020 (57.52 points) and fell by 26.83% compared to April 2019 (44.61 points), reported the Bank of Guatemala.
In Guatemala, between January and February of this year, the price of 22-gauge steel sheet fell 2%, and the price of rustic pine formwork wood increased 2%.
The Price Index of Construction Materials -IPMC-, prepared by the National Institute of Statistics (INE), measures the price variations of the eighty-nine (89) materials and services that make up the representative basket of inputs used in the construction activity, using December 2018=100 as the base month.
Price per gallon of regular gasoline: Costa Rica $3.87, Nicaragua $3.28, Honduras $3.27, Guatemala $2.93, El Salvador $2.54 and Panama, $2.81
From the Ministry of Economy report of El Salvador:
The current reference prices present significant declines for gasoline and diesel, these declines respond directly to the events of the break of the pact between OPEC, led by Saudi Arabia, and the countries that had made an alliance with the organization, represented by Russia.
Price per gallon of regular gasoline: Costa Rica $3.82, Nicaragua $3.61, Honduras $3.39, Guatemala $2.99, El Salvador $2.98 and Panama $2.81.
From the Ministry of Economy of El Salvador report:
The current reference prices for gasoline and diesel maintain a mixed trend (ups and downs), these variations are because of the continuous fall in the reserves of these products.
In the second month of this year, the FAO food price index rose by 8 percent compared to the same month in 2019, explained by rising prices of meat, dairy products, vegetable oils and sugar.
From FAO's monthly report:
-The FAO Food Price Index* (FFPI) averaged 180.5 points in February 2020, down 1.9 points (1.0 percent) from January but still 13.5 points (8.1 percent) higher than in February 2019. The decline marked the first month-on-month drop in the value of the FFPI following four months of successive increases. It was driven by a sharp fall in the export prices of vegetable oils and, to a lesser extent, meat and grains, more than offsetting a continued rise in dairy and sugar prices.
In Guatemala, between January 2019 and the same month of this year the price of the white porcelain sink with accessories rose 5%, and the 3/8" diameter and 20" long rod was reduced 6%.
The Price Index of Construction Materials -IPMC-, carried out by the National Institute of Statistics (INE), measures the price variations of the eighty-nine (89) materials and services that make up the representative basket of inputs used in the construction activity, using December 2018=100 as the base month.
Price per gallon of regular gasoline: Costa Rica $4.10, Nicaragua $3.51, Honduras $3.39, El Salvador $2.95, Guatemala $2.92 and Panama $2.81.
From the report of the Ministry of Economy of El Salvador:
The current reference prices for gasoline and diesel show a mixed trend (ups and downs), these variations are due to the continuous fall in the reserves of these products, according to reports provided by the IEA in February 2020.
Price per gallon of regular gasoline: Costa Rica $4.08, Nicaragua $3.52, Honduras $3.51, El Salvador $2.96, Guatemala $2.96 and Panama $2.81.
From a statement by the Ministry of Economy of El Salvador:
The current reference prices for gasoline and diesel show a marked decline at the national level, which reflects the emergency experienced by China because of the coronavirus.
Up to January this year, the FAO food price index rose by 11% compared to the same month in 2019, explained by the increase in the prices of meat, dairy products, vegetable oils and sugar.
From FAO's monthly report:
» The FAO Food Price Index* (FFPI) averaged 182.5 points in January 2020, up 1.3 points (0.7 percent) from December 2019 and 11.3 percent higher than the same month last year.
Price per gallon of regular gasoline: Costa Rica $4.07, Nicaragua $3.52, Honduras $3.45, El Salvador $3.04, Guatemala $3.02 and Panama, $2.83
From a statement by the Ministry of Economy of El Salvador:
The current reference prices for gasoline and diesel, show low prices at national level, due to the outcome of the conflict between the United States and Iran, where the Arab country attacked two military bases located in Iraqi territory.
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