Browse Data and Analysis

Record-high remittances continue to boost consumer spending in 2024. U.S. agricultural exports to Nicaragua through September 2024 are up four percent compared to the same period in 2023.

In June 2024, the Nicaraguan Institute of Agricultural Protection and Health (IPSA) issued an executive resolution to strengthen the risk mitigation measures for the monitoring and testing of GE grains.

Consumer trends in Nicaragua are shifting towards modern retail channels as remittance flows increase. Supermarkets are expanding rapidly, with one grocery store chain opening eight new locations in 2024.

This report provides information to U.S. exporters of agricultural and related products on how to do business with the retail food sector in Panama. Important supermarket, hypermarket, and independent specialty food store chains dominates the grocery sector.

This report provides information on export certification requirements for U.S. food and agricultural exports to Nicaragua. There were no significant changes to required export certificates since the 2023 report.

This report describes Nicaraguan regulatory requirements and import procedures for food and agricultural products. As of June 2024, there had been no major changes to the regulatory regime since the 2023 report.

The Nicaraguan Institute of Agricultural Protection and Health enforces a unique interpretation of a regional technical food safety regulation for imported meat that occasionally results in rejections of U.S. pork and chicken meat shipments. This...

FAS/Managua anticipates coffee production in marketing year 2024/25 to rebound to 2.6 million 60-kilogram bags, as a return to average precipitation levels should support historical average yields.

Changes to Panama's import requirements reflected in this report are for beef, pork, poultry, dairy products, and prior notifications of imported food. A new law establishes the inspections and food safety regulations for food products.

Nicaragua reported an outbreak of New World screwworm to the World Organization for Animal Health following confirmation of a sample collected on March 12, 2024. Nicaragua is the largest cattle producer in Central America and last detected screwworm in 1996.

Panama recognizes the certificates and standards of the U.S. regulatory and sanitary inspection system, based on the United States – Panama Agreement regarding certain sanitary and phytosanitary measures and technical standards affecting trade in agricultural products, of December 20, 2006, simplifying requirements for the importation of U.S. food and feed products.

FAS/Managua anticipates a drop in sugarcane production in marketing year 2024/25, as increased precipitation, which could be exacerbated by a La Niña weather cycle in the second half of 2024, brings agricultural and industrial yields closer to historical levels.