CENTRAL AMERICA Regional Bulletin July 2011

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White maize is the primary staple food consumed in Central America. White maize is most commonly consumed in the form of tortillas. Beans and rice are also key staple foods. Wheat, sugar, potatoes, and vegetable oil are commonly consumed . In Costa Rica and Panama, imported rice is the primary staple food instead of maize. The region, overall, has a deficit of both maize and rice. San Salvador in El Salvador is the most important regional market and has links to the domestic market, to trade with North and South America, and to cross‐border trade with Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Guatemala City, San Pedro Sula, Tegucigalpa, Chontales, Managua, San Jose, and Panama City are also important large urban markets in the region and trading hubs. The region has three growing seasons. The primera and postrera seasons are found in most growing regions and produce both maize and beans. The apante season is a third growing season used primarily for beans. This season is an important source of bean production in Nicaragua, Honduras, and Northern Guatemala. Maize and beans are grown in every country in the region, and rice is produced in all the countries in limited quantities. Almost every meal includes maize, and almost every household consumes beans. Black beans are preferred in Guatemala and Costa Rica, while red beans are preferred in El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua. In Panama, both beans are commonly consumed. Beans are grown throughout the region with Nicaragua being an important regional exporter to deficit areas. Rice is primarily imported from outside the region from the international market.

White Maize: Nominal wholesale prices in San Salvador White Maize: Nominal wholesale prices in Tegucigalpa El Salvador (Zona Belén), Honduras 45 1,500

36 1,200

27 900 lbs

USD/lb 18 600 HNL/200

9 300

0 0

AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL

5 year average 2005/06‐2009/10 Previous year 2009/10 Current year 2010/11 5 year average 2005/06‐2009/10 Previous year 2009/10 Current year 2010/11

*FEWS NET gratefully acknowledges local government agencies, market information systems, UN agencies, NGOs, and private sector partners. FEWS NET Central America FEWS NET Washington FEWS NET is a USAID-funded activity. The authors’ views expressed in this 1717 H St NW publication do not necessarily reflect the view of the United States Agency for Washington DC 20006 International Development or the United States Government. [email protected] CENTRAL AMERICA Regional Bulletin July 2011

White Maize: Nominal wholesale prices in San Pedro White Maize: Nominal wholesale prices in Managua, Sula (Medina Concepcio), Honduras Nicaragua 1,500 1000

1,200 800 bag

900 lbs 600 lbs 100

600 NIO/ 400 HNL/200

300 200

0 0

AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL

5 year average 2005/06‐2009/10 Previous year 2009/10 Current year 2010/11 5 year average 2005/06‐2009/10 Previous year 2009/10 Current year 2010/11

White Maize: Nominal wholesale prices in Chontales, White Maize: Nominal wholesale prices in Leon, Nicaragua Nicaragua 1,000 1,000

800 800 bag bag lbs lbs 600 600 100

100

NIO/ NIO/ 400 400

200 200

0 0

AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL

5 year average 2005/06‐2009/10 Previous year 2009/10 Current year 2010/11 5 year average 2005/06‐2009/10 Previous year 2009/10 Current year 2010/11

White Maize: Nominal retail prices in Guatemala City, Red Beans: Nominal wholesale prices in San Salvador Guatemala El Salvador 4.00 150

3.20 120

2.40 90 USD/lb GTQ/lb 1.60 60

0.80 30

0.00 0

AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL

5 year average 2005/06‐2009/10 Previous year 2009/10 Current year 2010/11 5 year average 2005/06‐2009/10 Previous year 2009/10 Current year 2010/11

Red Beans: Nominal wholesale prices in Tegucigalpa Red Beans: Nominal wholesale prices in San Pedro Sula, (Zona Belén), Honduras Honduras 4,500 4,500

3,600 3,600

2,700 2,700 lbs

lbs

1,800 1,800 HNL/200 HNL/200

900 900

0 0

AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL 5 year average 2005/06‐2009/10 Previous year 2009/10 Current year 2010/11 5 year average 2005/06‐2009/10 Previous year 2009/10 Current year 2010/11

Famine Early Warning Systems Network 2 CENTRAL AMERICA Regional Bulletin July 2011

Red Beans: Nominal wholesale prices in Managua, Red Beans: Nominal wholesale prices in Chontales, Nicaragua Nicaragua 2,500 2,500

2,000 2,000 bag

lbs 1,500 1,500 100

NIO/ 1,000 1,000 NIO/Hundredweight 500 500

0 0

AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL

5 year average 2005/06‐2009/10 Previous year 2009/10 Current year 2010/11 5 year average 2005/06‐2009/10 Previous year 2009/10 Current year 2010/11

Red Beans: Nominal wholesale prices in Leon, Black Beans: Nominal retail prices in Guatemala City, Nicaragua Guatemala 2,500 8.00

2,000 6.00 1,500 4.00 1,000 GTQ/lb NIO/Hundredweight 500 2.00

0 0.00

Rice: Nominal wholesale prices in San Salvador Classified Rice: Nominal retail prices in Tegucigalpa El Salvador (Zona Belén), Honduras 80 20

64 16

48 12 lbs

USD/lb 32 HNL/ 8

16 4

0 0

AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL

5 year average 2005/06‐2009/10 Previous year 2009/10 Current year 2010/11 5 year average 2005/06‐2009/10 Previous year 2009/10 Current year 2010/11

Classified Rice: Nominal retail prices in San Pedro Sula Segunda Rice (80/20; Unbroken/Broken): Nominal (Dandy), Honduras wholesale prices in Chontales, Nicaragua 20 1,500

16 1,200 bag

12 lbs 900 lbs

100

HNL/ 8 NIO/ 600

4 300

0 0

AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL

5 year average 2005/06‐2009/10 Previous year 2009/10 Current year 2010/11 5 year average 2005/06‐2009/10 Previous year 2009/10 Current year 2010/11

Famine Early Warning Systems Network 3 CENTRAL AMERICA Regional Bulletin July 2011

Segunda Rice (80/20; Unbroken/Broken): Nominal Rice: Nominal retail prices in Guatemala City, wholesale prices in Managua, Nicaragua Guatemala 1,500 8.00 1,350 7.00 1,200 6.00 bag 1,050

lbs 900 5.00 100 750 4.00 GTQ/lb

NIO/ 600 3.00 450 2.00 300 150 1.00 0 0.00

AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL

5 year average 2005/06‐2009/10 Previous year 2009/10 Current year 2010/11 5 year average 2005/06‐2009/10 Previous year 2009/10 Current year 2010/11

White Maize: Nominal retail prices Beans: Nominal retail prices 1.00 3.00

2.50 0.75 2.00

0.50 1.50 USD/kg USD/kg 1.00 0.25 0.50

0.00 0.00

Aug‐08 Jan‐09 Jun‐09 Nov‐09 Apr‐10 Sep‐10 Feb‐11 Jul‐11 Aug‐08 Jan‐09 Jun‐09 Nov‐09 Apr‐10 Sep‐10 Feb‐11 Jul‐11

Guatemala City, Guatemala San Salvador, El Salvador Guatemala City, Guatemala San Salvador, El Salvador Tegucigalpa, Honduras Managua, Nicaragua Tegucigalpa, Honduras Managua, Nicaragua

Famine Early Warning Systems Network 4