CENTRAL AMERICAN REGION

Feedback from the Trade on Their Plans and Interest in the USA Pear Season:

Northwest pears were available in the region, but USA Pear volumes decreased during April because some importers did not receive more loads. Importers and retailers commented that they will not expect to import more loads during the rest of this season, rather they will continue importing pears from other origins during the upcoming months. For this reason, USA Pears volumes are expected to decrease for the next month. At wholesale, Northwest pears reported a 19% pear market share, with 24% in supermarket stores and 17% in traditional channels. Sales and quality were reported as good during this period.

Expectations for Any Freight or Logistics Challenges:

For trade members there are currently no challenges or concerns related to freight or logistics issues.

Opportunities in Your Market for Specific Varieties, Sizes, and Grades:

Anjou, Bosc and Red Anjou continue being the main varieties requested by importers in the region; however, the market continues to be open to other varieties like Forelle if the price is competitive. Small and medium sizes are preferred, but in markets like Costa Rica, large sizes are preferred in the retail sector. Regarding quality grades, US#1 and Fancy grades are preferred by trade members.

Update on the Competition in the Market:

During this month, Chile was the main pear supplier in the region; at wholesale, this origin reported a 69% pear market share with 64% in supermarket stores and 70% in traditional channels. Sales and quality were reported as good during this period; volumes are expected to increase during the next month because importers will receive more loads. Pears from Argentina reported 9% pear market share at wholesale, 9% in supermarket stores and 12% in traditional channels. Sales and quality were reported as good during this period. Volumes are expected to remain at the same level during the next month, because importers will receive more loads. Pears from Spain reported a 3% pear market share at wholesale with 3% in supermarket stores and 1% in traditional channels; volumes are expected to decrease during the next month, because importers will not receive more loads.

Political or Economic Issues Impacting Imports, Retail, or Consumer Behavior:

Family remittances in Central America increased by around 20% in the first quarter of 2025, according to official data, and experts attribute this to migrants' fear of deportations by the US administration. Millions of Central Americans living in the United States, hundreds of thousands of them illegally, send remittances home to their families, representing nearly a quarter of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and Nicaragua. In Guatemala, the central bank recorded the arrival of $5.6427 billion in family remittances in the first quarter of this year, a 20.5% increase compared to the same period last year. For its part, Honduras received $2.62 billion, a 24% increase compared to the first quarter of 2024, according to its central bank. In that country, 454,733 households have at least one immigrant relative, according to the 2023 National Survey on Migration and Remittances by the International Organization for Migration. El Salvador and Nicaragua do not yet have complete data for the first quarter, but in January and February, remittances increased by 14.2% and 22.6%, respectively, compared to the first two months of 2024. El Salvador received $1,406.3 million and Nicaragua $909.1 million in the first two months of 2025, according to their central banks. In Nicaragua, the figure includes not only remittances from the United States, but also from Costa Rica, with $68.2 million, and Spain, with $48.6 million. Meanwhile, in Costa Rica and Panama, there is no mass migration, and the remittances they receive have minimal impact on their economies.

Other Brief Comments:

With the goal of being closer to Guatemalan families, retailer Maxi Despensa continues to expand its presence in the country with the opening of its 48th store in Gualán, Zacapa, which is also the 174th store in the region. Located in Barrio Las Flores, this new store offers the community an accessible shopping experience, with a wide assortment of products at low prices.