For 2021, the value of imports of tires for use in buses and trucks in Central America is observed for $299 million, which is an increase in the variation of almost 40% from the period analyzed from 2012 to 2020, in addition, the main supplier of this product is China, which has led in the region.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graphic"]
In the second quarter of 2021, Guatemala is positioned as the largest importer in the Central American region with $32.3 million, during this period the main country supplying tires for trucks and buses is China.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graphic"]
China is the source market for imports that has remained the most stable since 2012, since in that year it represented 42% of regional purchases and in 2020 it represents 72%.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graphic"].
As a result of the shortage of tires and the increase in the cost of maritime freight, Costa Rican importers of Chinese tires estimate that prices in the local market have increased about 40% in recent months.
Representatives of Tire Kingdom, a company that imports tires manufactured in China in Costa Rica, foresee that due to the increase in prices, the main advantages of these tires could be reduced or disappear.
In Central America, tires for buses and trucks from Thailand have gained importance in terms of the amount purchased, since in the first half of 2014 they represented 0.4% of total imports and for the same period of 2020 the proportion rose to 5%.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graphic"].
From January to June 2020, companies in the region bought new tires abroad for $197 million, with Costa Rica being the only market that increased its imports and Panama the Central American country that reduced its purchases the most in year-on-year terms.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Area of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphic"]
From January to July 2020, companies in the countries of the region imported new tires from Mexico for $9 million, 23% less than what was reported for the same period in 2019.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphic"]
From January to March 2020, companies in the region bought new tires abroad for $113 million, 4% more than in the same period in 2019, with Costa Rica and El Salvador being the markets that increased imports the most.
Figures from CentralAmericaData's Trade Intelligence Unit: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphic"]
From January to April 2020 companies in the countries of the region imported from Mexico new tires for $5.9 million, exceeding in 13% the reported in the same period of 2019.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphic"]
In Costa Rica, Bridgestone began partial operations on May 11 and now announces that it will completely normalize its activities at the plant in Heredia by the end of June.
Following the outbreak of covid-19 in the country, the tire manufacturer decided to temporarily close the operations of its plant located in the canton of Belen.
As a result of the emergency that Costa Rica is going through due to the spread of the coronavirus, Bridgestone announced that it will temporarily close its industrial plant located in Belen, Heredia.
The company announced that its plant will remain inactive from March 26 to April 12 and that none of the 1,000 employees working on the premises will be dismissed.
Retail sales in the automotive sector in Central America are predicted to be significantly affected by the covid-19 crisis, which would be partially explained by the drop in tire sales.
The "Information System for the Impact Analysis of covid-19 on Business", prepared by the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData, measures the degree of impact that the crisis will have on companies according to their sector or economic activity, during the coming months.
From January to September 2019, companies in the region bought new tires abroad for $340 million, 5% more than in the same period in 2018, with Nicaragua and Panama being the markets that increased imports the most.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphics"]
In the first six months of 2019, countries in the region imported $106 million in bus and truck tires, and purchases from companies in China grew 11% over the same period in 2018.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphics"]