For 2020, Honduras was the largest importer of iron and steel sheets in the Central American region with $198 million, it is noted that the main seller was China with 46.15% of the market, equivalent to $330.5 million, being the country with the highest growth in sales.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graphic"]
The Ministry of Communications, Infrastructure and Housing of Guatemala is conducting a tender to purchase different materials for the construction of houses for people affected by the tropical depressions Eta and Iota in some municipalities of the departments of Petén, Zacapa and Alta Verapaz.
During 2020, it is estimated that the average price of a ton of steel increased 19%, a rise that impacts the construction industry and is explained by the increase in logistics costs and the suspension of the extraction of the material due to the outbreak of covid-19.
Central American businessmen report that during last year, which was marked by the sanitary and economic crisis, the average price per ton of steel increased by $130, going from $670 to $800.
In the first half of 2020, Central American imports of iron and steel sheets totaled $387 million, 13% less than what was reported in the same period of 2019, a drop that is explained by the decline in purchases in all markets in the region.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graph"]
During the first quarter of 2020, imports of iron and steel sheets in the countries of the region totaled $208 million, 7% less than what was reported for the same period in 2019, a fall that is explained by the decrease in purchases in Honduras, El Salvador and Costa Rica.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphic"]
In response to the authorities' consultation on the request for a safeguard measure on the import of steel products, the builders are opposed on the grounds that this would make materials more expensive, in addition to making their production inefficient.
Arguing that there is no serious injury to the domestic production, the Ministry of Economy of Guatemala decided that it is not appropriate to impose the safeguard requested by a local company on the import of rolled products.
It was found that there is no Serious Injury to the total national production of "flat rolled products of other alloy steels, of a width greater or equal to 600 mm", which are classified in the tariff items 7225.91.00, 7225.92.00 and 7225.99.00 of the Central American Tariff System (SAC), according to official information.
During the first half of 2019, imports of iron and steel sheets in the countries of the region totaled $446 million, and purchases from companies in Mexico increased by 24% over the same period in 2018.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphics"]
The Honduran construction union asked the government to eliminate the safeguards on imports of steel-based products, because they assure that these measures promote monopolistic practices.
Directors of the Honduran Chamber of Construction Industry (Chico), indicated that the safeguard applied to steel sheets and rods are detrimental to the construction industry and this translates into an increase in prices.
Importers of rolled products in Guatemala demand objectivity in the investigation conducted by the Ministry of Economy to determine whether or not to apply a safeguard to the import of these products.
Derived from the request made by the company Ternium, for the Directorate of Foreign Trade Administration (DACE) to carry out an economic study of the import of rolled products in the country, which has as its main objective, to establish if appropriate a safeguard measure, companies such as Ferromax and Grupo Ferroso, SA, require that the results of the investigation are objective and respond to the real situation of the market.
At the request of Ternium, the Guatemalan Ministry of Economy conducts an import investigation to determine whether or not a safeguard can be applied, a measure opposed by the commercial sector.
In February 2018, the company Ternium submitted to the authorities a request for the Directorate of Foreign Trade Administration (DACE) to carry out an economic study of the import of rolled products into the country, which has as its main objective, to establish whether a safeguard measure is appropriate.
During the first quarter of 2019, imports of iron and steel sheets in the countries of the region totaled $224 million, 7% less than reported in the same period of 2018.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAPHIC caption="Click to interact with graphic"]
During the last year, imports of iron and steel sheets in the countries of the region totaled $941 million, 13% more than in 2017, a rise explained by purchases made from companies in China.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphic"]
In Costa Rica, the National Roads Council tenders the supply of modular steel trusses in delivery mode according to demand, to be used in vehicular bridges.
Costa Rica Government Purchase 2019LN-000010-0006000001:
"The objective is to establish a contractual relationship of delivery according to demand for the supply of modular trusses that can be launched with one or two lanes.