For 2021, watermelon exports were unchanged significantly, during that year 140,093 metric tons were registered with a value of $52 million, mainly destined for the United States of America, reaching $23 million in purchases from the Central American region.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graphic"]
Honduran companies and authorities of both countries are agreeing on dates to review and endorse the phytosanitary measures of those interested in exporting the fruit.
According to the authorities of the National Agricultural Health Service (Senasa) of Honduras, the South American country presented days ago to the World Trade Organization (WTO), the phytosanitary requirements for the import of melon from the Central American country.
Because of the opening of new markets, during the 2018-2019 harvest the country sold $110 million abroad, exceeding by 53% the value exported in the previous cycle.
According to data from the Central Bank of Honduras, between the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 harvests, the value of melon exports increased by $38 million, from $72 million to $110 million.
Arnaldo Castillo, secretary of Economic Development, explained to Laprensa.hn that one of the factors contributing to this rise was "... the opening of new markets for melon. The countries incorporated as destinations for this fruit are Japan, Taiwan, Mexico, Dubai and Singapore."
The first foreign sale of the fruits was carried out by the company Melones de la Península, which sent 1,500 kilos to Europe by air and 10,000 kilos by sea.
After the organization Kiwa BCS Limitada granted the certification of organic product, in a first stage Melones de la Península exported 1,500 kilos during two weeks, by air, between both varieties (melon-yellow honey dew and watermelon-quetzali), as well as approximately 10 thousand kilos by sea in the same period.
During the first three months of the year countries in Central America sold $52 million worth of watermelons abroad, which is 20% more than what was exported in the same period in 2017.
Figures from the information system on the Fresh Watermelon Market in Central America, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData : [GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with graph"]
Last year countries in the region exported $68 million worth of watermelons, the highest value in the last six years, registering an increase of 58% compared to 2016.
Figures from the information system on the Fresh Watermelon Market in Central America, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with graph"]
After having participated in the Fruit Logistica fair, an association of Panamanian producers is preparing to export this year 350 containers of watermelon to the European continent.
Representatives from the Export Watermelon Producers Association of Cascajalillo Unido (Apsecu), stated that in the recent Fruit Logistics fair held in Berlin, Germany, they established direct contacts with European buyers, which will allow them to sell the product without having to resort to intermediaries.
The Association of Producers of Watermelon for Export announced the signing of a contract with the logistics company CH Robinson to export 20 containers of the fruit to the European country.
The deal with the Dutch company was finalised within the framework of the FruitLogística trade fair in Germany, where agro-export companies from Panama and other countries in the region took part.
For the 2017-2018 harvest, Honduran producers expect to maintain the high productivity levels achieved in the 2016/17 cycle, and estimate exports worth more than $70 million.
The aim of producers in this harvest is to exceed the export results obtained in the 2016/17 harvest, which is estimated at $69.5 million.Favorable climatic factors allow good levels of performance to be anticipated, as was achieved in the 2016/17 cycle, when yields exceeding 1,000 boxes per manzana were reached.
In the first five months of the year, banana, melon, watermelon and pineapple exports fell 7%, 52%, 55%, and 18%, respectively, compared to the same period in 2016.
Figures from the Comptroller General of the Republic indicate that in the case of bananas, the value exported in the first five months of the year amounted to $37 million, while the exported value of watermelon was $6 million. The reduction was 7% and 55%, respectively.
Between January and September 2016 the volume of watermelon exports from the region grew by 17% compared to the same period in 2015.
Figures from the information system on themarket for fresh watermelon in Central America complied by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Clic para interactuar con la gráfica"]
In 2016 the total export value was $53 million, 6% less than the amount exported during the previous year, mainly due to a decline in the international price.
Last year Honduras exported 268 million kilos of melons and watermelons, according to central bank figures.The total volume of exports fell by only 1.1% compared to the previous year.
In 2015 the region as a whole exported $36 million worth of watermelons, led by Costa Rica and Panama who exported $14 million each, followed by Honduras, with $4 million.
Watermelon Tradefiguresin Central America,analyzed by the Business Inteligence Unit at CentralAmericaData.com show that in 2015 the countries in Central America exported 154,476 tons of whole watermelon, at an average price of $0.23 per kilogram.
Forecasts for the 2016-17 harvest are that fruit exports will generate between $60 and $65 million.
Melon producers anticipate that, although the weather conditions were not the best, they may achieve performance"... per hectare of between 900 to 1000 boxes".
Laprensa.hn reports that "...Producers hope to recover from losses in 2014 and 2015, when production was reduced to 700 cases because of damages caused by viruses and whitefly in some municipalities in the south of the country.This had a negative impact on foreign exchange earnings when only 51.6 million was registered in the period 2015 and 2016, lower than the 62.9 million in 2014."
Central American exporters can take advantage of the high prices the fruit is currently trading at in the United States because supply of the fruit from Mexico has been reduced.
From a statement issued by PROCOMER:
The reduced supply of watermelons from Mexico has kept prices high for imported product going to the United States. Since Mexican supply is limited, Central American shippers have the opportunity to leverage a relatively empty market.
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