Companies in the disposable plastic manufacturing sector have the capacity to replace all their production with environmentally friendly options, but the main obstacle is the limited capacity that customers must pay the surcharge for bioplastics.
In Costa Rica, some 31 companies indicated that they have the capacity to replace all their production with user-friendly options, the main limitations being the low capacity of customers to pay the surcharge for bioplastics and the restrictions on the functionality of the alternatives.
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.
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.
Almost a year after the regulation for the commercial use of drones entered into force in the country, there are only four companies registered with the General Directorate of Civil Aviation.
Since February 14th, 2018, companies using drones for commercial purposes in Costa Rica must pay $1,874 to obtain the exploitation certificate. So far, few companies in this business have initiated the permit process.
The Guatemalan export sector identifies Florida, Texas, Virginia, Maryland, Georgia, New Jersey and New York as the U.S. states with the greatest potential for the country's exportable supply.
The Guatemalan Association of Exporters (Agexport) presented the "Best Markets, Products and Services 2019", which is based on the analysis of different macroeconomic variables, sustained growth and market dimensions, to show the exporter the opportunities with the greatest potential.
According to Guatemalan sugar producers, Africa and New Zealand are two of the markets that in recent years have generated growth opportunities for exports of the sector.
According to figures from the Bank of Guatemala, sugar exports to New Zealand increased from $11 million from January to August 2017 to $33 million for the same period this year.
In this regard, the manager of the Association of Sugar Producers of Guatemala (Asazgua), Luis Miguel Paiz, explained to Elperiodico.com.gt that "... In recent years the emerging markets that have meant an opportunity are Africa and currently New Zealand. The main ones are North and South America, the Far East and the Caribbean."
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%.
Since last month the beer brand Gallo has been on sale in El Salvador, produced by the Guatemalan company Cervecería Centro Americana.
Laprensagrafica.com reports that "... Cervecería Centro Americana is forging ahead with its flagship beer, Gallo, in the Salvadoran market.The drink has been in some supermarkets in the country since April."
The sector is backing new destinations such as the Dominican Republic and Cuba, through a commercial mission that will travel to these countries in search of potential buyers.
According to representatives from the Embassy of the Dominican Republic in Nicaragua, the Caribbean country imports from Europe and the US, milk powder, cheese and other dairy products. They explained that the requirements for the entry of products are "technically possible and in sanitary terms are those that are necessary."
According to the union of exporters, for 2018 the destinations that represent potential opportunities for special coffees are Taiwan, China, Australia, Malaysia, Czech Republic and Chile.
In the case of the Chilean market, the first multisectorial trade mission led by the Department of Market Development and Commercial Promotion of the Guatemalan Association of Exporters (Agexport) was carried out in 2017, in which more than 50 commercial appointments were attended, showing high interest for the special coffees of Guatemala.
Costa Rican Brands of restaurants chains and coffee shops such as Spoon and La Fabbrica are counting on economic growth in Panama and opening branches in the capital.
AT the moment the restaurant chain La Fabbrica is maintaining its expansion with an increase of between 10% and 15% in Central America, while Spoon plans to start exporting Costa Rican branded products to Nicaragua, Panama and Puerto Rico.
Although only a few Costa Rican companies take part in trade shows worldwide, those that have done so generally obtaing good results.
During 2014 more than 50 exporting companies in Costa Rica took part in international trade fairs in order to meet potential customers, promote their business and strike deals to increase their shipments abroad. As a result of participation in some of these international fairs, agricultural products such as taro, ginger, squash, sweet potato, among others, will start be sold in the US soon.
Mango growers in Australia are preparing to start selling mangos in the North American country in the coming months.
From a statement by the Costa Rican Foreign Trade Promotion Office (PROCOMER):
Australian mango exporters are seeing opportunities to enter the US market with this product in the current season. The Australian Mango Industry Association (AMIA) has worked closely with the Government of Australia and US authorities to process a work plan that aims to market the fruit in this destination in the coming months.
Companies in the coffee sector will go to Taiwan on November 14th to participate in the International Fair of Coffee, Tea and Wine.
For the third consecutive year, with the support of the Council for the Promotion of Foreign Trade of Taiwan companies in the sector will be taking part in the Taiwanese business fair. Some of the participating companies are Mayaland Coffee, Seacsa Business Group, Asdecafé, Finca Chacayá, Asproguate and Finca El Triunfo.
The website for the "Business Intelligence System of the Association Agreement between Central America and the European Union" summarizes the regulatory framework, procedures, market information and other topics of interest to exporting SMEs.
The Ministry of Economy of El Salvador has put online a "Business Intelligence System of the Association Agreement between Central America and the European Union", a website which aims to present the content and the benefits of the Association Agreement in a format which is simple and accessible, so that Central American exporters and importers can receive this information and maximize opportunities.