Between January and September 2016 the countries of the region exported 399 thousand tons of metalliferous minerals, led by Guatemala, with 375 thousand tons.
Figures from the information system on the the Metal Ores Market in Central America , compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Clic para interactuar con la gráfica"]
In 2015 Honduras and Guatemala exported ores such as zinc, nickel and other precious metals worth $47 million and $46 million respectively.
Figuresfrom the Report on Import and Export of Ores, Slag and Ash in Central America,prepared by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData.com show that in 2015 the countries in the region exported 1,207,000 tons of ores, slag and ash, equivalent in value to $93.4 million.
Processed foods, fuels, pharmaceuticals and chemicals are some of the nontraditional exports which grew by 7% in the first nine months of the year compared with the same period in 2013.
From a statement issued by the Guatemalan Exporters Association (Agexport):
In September 2014, Guatemala's total exports reported an increase of 7% compared to the same date in 2013.
After a 30-year ban and with a $551 million investment, the Fenix project has resumed operations for the production of up to 25,000 tonnes of ferro nickel a year.
An operating license for the Niquelgua Montufar II mine was awarded in April 2013 to a subsidiary of Solway Group, Compañía Guatemalteca de Níquel, in which the Guatemalan state has a 1.8% stake.
A mining group plans to invest $27 million in a specialized port in Izabal which will have the capacity to move half a million tonnes of nickel per year.
Businessmen linked to the mining industry, and especially to Compañía Guatemalteca de Níquel (CGN), could be investing $27 million in the construction of a port to move half a million tonnes of nickel per year.
The company Guatemalteca de Níquel has requested a piece of land in Santo Tomas de Castilla for a coal plant from which would produce nickel be exported.
This was confirmed by Guatemalan President Otto Perez Molina, who said the company's request is for the machinery to be used in the exploitation of the mineral.
He added that at the moment they are reviewing the requirements demanded by the Port Act because "you can not have a usufruct as allowed by Act of Puerto Quetzal".
It has been estimated that between southern Petén and northern Izabal there is one of the largest nickel reserves in the world.
"The Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM) estimates that although at the moment the area of Izabal has only small projects, in the next few years there will be a mining complex because of the large mineral reserves, which would place Guatemala among the top five producers the world,"noted an article in Elperiodico.com.gt.
An economic feasibility study by Anfield Nickerson Corp has estimated average annual production 19,900 tons of ferronickel and a net present value of $606 million.
The Canadian company engaged in exploration and extraction, announced the conclusion of the economic feasibility study on the Mayaniquel project, a nickel mine in the northeast of Guatemala.
Anfield Nickel Corp. discovered a nickel deposit in Tres Juanes Sur, in Izabal.
The Tres Juanes field is owned by Guatemalan Mayaníquel, SA, a subsidiary of Anfield Nickel Corp.
The site is located at a depth of 18.4 meters, grading 3.05% nickel.
Anfield Nickel Corp. exploration company focused on exploration and development of nickel resources. The company owns Mayaniquel, SA, a Guatemalan company which controls approximately 80,000 hectares of mining rights in the district around Lake Izabal.
A new study on the Mining Nickel Project “Mayaniquel”, owned by Anfield Nickel Corp., duplicates the estimated capacity of the mine.
The company reported that contained nickel in the Indicated resource category has increased by 16%, while contained nickel in the Inferred resource category has increased by 175%
This project comprises a concession of 80.000 hectares near Izabal Lake, 120 kilometers NE from Guatemala City.
No start date has been set for the reopening of the Fenix nickel project in Guatemala, owned by HudBay Minerals.
The project was acquired by HudBay last year when it purchased Canadian miner Skye Resources. It was then suspended as nickel prices plummeted, in the wake of the global economic crisis.
The mine has a capital cost estimate of around $1 billion, which could change depending on how managers choose to power the plant.
Weak metals prices and global economic uncertainty has forced zinc and copper producer HudBay Minerals Inc. to delay construction of the Fenix nickel project in Guatemala.
But its large cash position could make it a takeover target.
The company has long been the subject of M&A speculation, but its shares could trade higher with a buyout premium from names like Teck Cominco Ltd., Lundin Mining Corp.
With the injection of 100 million dollars in capital from HudBay Minerals Inc., the nickel mine at El Estor, Izabal has been given new life.
At the end of January, the Guatemala Nickel Company, a subsidiary of the Canadian mining company Skye Resources Inc., suspended operations to look for a new partner to provide more capital.
HudBay, another Canadian company, will control 79.7 percent of the shares after investing in Skye.