Commercial competitiveness of cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.), in the market of Nicaragua, Guatemala, Hondura, Panamá, Costa Rica and El Salvador in the period 2011-2015

Abstract

The objective of this study is to analyze the commercial competitiveness of cocoa in the 2011-2015 period of the Central American market, focused on the participation of Nicaragua in comparison to each country in the Central American region, aimed at the cocoa trade through exports and exports. imports, opportunities and export processes. For the collection of statistical data, the FAO, CETREX and SIECA databases were consulted, dynamic tables, frequency tables and graphs were prepared for their subsequent analysis and interpretation. The study showed that in Central America there is a growing trend in exports, in this context Nicaragua is the country that exports the most cocoa in monetary values ​​with percentage averages higher than 55% in relation to other countries in the region, in terms of export volume Nicaragua is positioned in the highest place, indicating that it exports at the best prices in the international market, placing itself competitively in first place in comparison to the other countries of the region for its high grain quality. The destination of Central America's exports is mostly destined to the countries of the same region, being importers: Guatemala, El Salvador and Panama, in countries outside the Central American region are Ivory Coast, Ecuador, Belgium and Germany.