Although the sector keeps its operations alive thanks to the packaging they produce for the food and cleaning industry, there is uncertainty among entrepreneurs as the demand for bags, brushes, tableware, furniture and other products has contracted.
As a result of the home quarantines that were decreed in the countries of the region in March 2020 due to covid-19, the outlook for the plastics industry fluctuates between optimism and uncertainty in market behavior.
It is estimated that Plásticos Generales S.A. and Durman Esquivel S.A. represent around 8% of the market share in the plastic import and manufacturing business.
Data from the platform "Company's Corporate System", complied by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData, provides details on company information based on sector, main activity, imports, exports, contracts granted by the government and other data.
Producing articles with avocado and corn seed resin, and products with additives that allow the decomposition of plastic in less time, are some of the strategies proposed by the sector to overcome the obstacles faced in the region.
As in the rest of the world, there have been several attempts in Central America to ban the use of some plastic products. For example, last month in El Salvador, a law initiative was presented to the Congress establishing a one-year deadline for companies to replace the use of plastic bags with articles made of other materials. See "El Salvador: Proposal to Ban Plastic Bags"
In the first quarter of the year the Central American country imported $20 million worth of plastic and its manufactures from Mexico, 26% more than in the same period in 2017.
Figures from the information system on the Market for Plastic and its Manufactures in El Salvador, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with graph"]
Last year, the region bought $3.874 million worth of plastic and manufactured goods from abroad, 6% more than in 2016, and 35% of imports came from the United States.
Figures from the information system on theMarket for Plastic and its Manufactures in Central America, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with graph"]
In the first nine months of 2017, countries in the region imported $2.861 billion worth of plastics and its manufactures, 4% more than what was purchased in the same period in 2016.
Figures from the information system on the Central American Market for Plastics and its Manufactures, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with graph"]
In 2017, the value of Central American purchases of plastic and its manufactures from companies in Mexico grew by 21% compared to 2016, in contrast to the decreases registered between 2013 and 2015.
Figures from the information system Market for Plastics and its Manufactures in Central America, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with graph"]
Resin-producing plants in Houston have declared themselves in a state of emergency due to the impact of Hurricane Harvey and have suspended several orders from Central American plastic manufacturers.
The Central American plastic industry predicts that this temporary situation will generate losses in production this year, affecting exports. Business leaders stated that the increase in the international price of the resin is another element that will affect the sector's overall performance.
While businesses and organizations try to reduce consumption of products such as plastic straws, bags or food packaging, the plastic industry is warning about the economic, health and environmental risks of these measures.
Measures to discourage the consumption of plastic products such as straws and bags pose significant challenges to companies that implement them, such as increasing costs when replacing plastic products with other reusable or recyclable products.
Annual imports by the plastic industry in Costa Rica are worth around $242 million, of which almost 50% is imported by Durman Esquivel, Mexichem and Polymer.
According to figures from the "Costa Rican Company Identifier" system, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData, in 2015 companies dedicated to the manufacture of plastic products, Durman Esquivel, Mexichem and Polymer, together imported $111 million worth of plastics.
Servimerck, Plasticentro, Distribuidoras de Productos Plásticos and Suministros Comerciales de Centroamérica accounted for 39% of imports of plastic tableware and other tableware in 2016.
Figures from the information system on the Plastic Plates and Tableware Market in Guatemala, complied by the Business Intelligence Unit atCentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with the graph"]
Operating Company dedicated to the manufacture of gluten-free and sugar-free products, OHNE brand. The OHNE brand has 8 product lines: square bread, sweet...
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