Food, beverages, liquor, household and personal care items are the categories that are expected to drive the rise in consumption levels in Central America during the last month of the year.
Despite the fact that 2020 has been a complex year for all business sectors, due to the covid-19 outbreak that generated a serious economic crisis in all Central American countries, sales are expected to increase considerably in December.
In the new context, disinfection service companies are offering innovative solutions to meet new customer requirements, such as the use of ultraviolet light cleaning systems.
Cleaning articles and services are some of the issues that have gained ground in the digital environment in this context of health crisis, which derives from the outbreak of covid-19 in the region.
In Central America, nearly 4 million people are looking to buy baby and children's products online, and 5% of these consumers are exploring options for purchasing baby food.
The interactive information system developed by CentralAmericaData, monitors in real time the changes in consumer habits in all markets of the region, with fundamental information to understand the new commercial environment that has emerged in an accelerated manner.
Increasing demand, new competitors of all kinds and the manufacture of uncertified products are some of the changes that this business is bringing to the pandemic scenario in Costa Rica.
According to CentralAmericaData reports, in Costa Rica since January 5, 2020 the interactions on the Internet associated with cleaning products show a clear upturn.
In Central America, imported diapers of the Huggies, Pampers, Pom Pom and Jueguitos brands account for approximately 65% of the total number of units consumed.
From the study "Diapers in Central America", prepared by the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData:
Reviewing the figures of the Costa Rican market, the interactive study states that Huggies, Pampers and Jueguitos are the brands that share more than 80% of the total local market. In the case of Panama, about 65% of sales are monopolized by the brands Pampers, Absormex and Huggies.
Interest in food and beverage products has clearly increased in recent weeks in the region's markets, with the trend being more evident in products such as baked goods, soups, liquors, fruits and vegetables, candies and fast food.
Through a system that monitors in real time changes in consumer interests and preferences in Central American countries, developed by the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData, it is possible to project short and long-term demand trends for the different sectors and markets operating in the region.
Instead of focusing on being more efficient in its lines of business and stop generating losses, the Costa Rican Electricity Institute will now focus on marketing electric kitchen templates for residential use.
Directors of the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE) stated that after evaluating consumers' purchasing intentions and conducting a financial and risk analysis, they concluded that the launch of the product, called induction templates, in the Costa Rican market is justified.
Last year, bottled water sales in Costa Rica were estimated at $89 million and they are expected to increase up to $106 million in 2023, a behavior explained by the downward trend in the consumption of carbonated beverages.
Although companies such as Florida Ice & Farm Co (Fifco) and Coca Cola Femsa have the opportunity to grow in the Costa Rican market, they will also face competition from new entrants such as Premium Brands.
The growing preference for freshly prepared foods meeting the demands of health-conscious consumers explains the niche market that is developing in Costa Rica.
Some of the companies which have found a niche market in the preparation of gourmet food specialized in the country, have emerged in response to the lack of time for people to cook and the need that several consumers have to meet the goals they define together with nutrition professionals.
When brands don't know how to approach women, this segment of the population removes products from their value equation because they can't establish a rational, less emotional relationship.
4AM Saatchi & Saatchi White Rabbit together with Prensalibre.com carried out the study "A Guide to Understanding the Consumer", and one of its objectives was to understand how women behave with respect to brands in the Guatemalan market, in a context of economic slowdown.
For Costa Rican businessmen, the neighboring country is a very important market, since it is dedicated to logistics, trade and financial intermediation, and demands different types of goods produced by Costa Rica.
In 2018 Costa Rican exports to the Panamanian market totaled $606 million, which positioned Panama as the fourth most important destination for foreign sales, surpassed only by the United States, Holland and Belgium.
The slowdown in domestic consumption in Costa Rica, together with the local currency depreciation, will cause customers to buy fewer high-end technology products.
In the report published by the Central Bank of Costa Rica (BCCR) called the October-2018 Economic Situation Report, it is explained that the slow increase in credit, imports of final consumer goods and tax collection are clear indicators of a slowdown in domestic demand.
In Costa Rica about 30% of supermarkets are in San Jose, Guatemala, the metropolitan area concentrates 45% of establishments, while in Panama, 32% are in West Panama.
An analysis of the Trade Intelligence area of CentralAmericaData provides interesting results on where they are located, who they are, if they operate independently or if they belong to a chain or business group.
Explained by better promotional efforts, the proportion of Costa Rican SMEs that export to Asian, South American and Caribbean countries continues to grow.
According to the Foreign Trade Promotion Office (Procomer), last year 86% of companies that sold goods in South America were SMEs, in the case of Asia the proportion reached 81% and for the Caribbean it was 80%.
The Central American Bank for Economic Integration has approved a loan of $48 million for the construction and equipping of an agricultural wholesale market in the north of the country.
The use of the loan must still be approved by the Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica.
From the website of the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (BCIE):