Browse Data and Analysis

The Government of Nicaragua has refused to issue import permits or has rejected shipments of U.S. poultry products – including raw frozen cuts, fully cooked products, and day-old chicks – from U.S. states where high pathogenicity avian influenza cases have been reported.

Despite being passed in 2010, Nicaraguan biotechnology legislation lacks implementing regulations that would open additional opportunities for farmers and food processors to integrate new technologies into their operations. However, Nicaraguan companies continue to regularly import genetically engineered feed grains and oilseed products to support the growing livestock sector.

U.S. exporters can find ample opportunities in the Iberian Peninsula. Spain is the third-largest European Union (EU) destination for U.S. agricultural products, with Portugal ranking 11th. In 2021, the United States exported $1.6 billion of agricultural products to Spain, or 15 percent of total U.S. agricultural exports to the EU. The United States held a 4 percent market share of Spain’s agricultural imports and 2 percent market share in Portugal, behind other EU member states as a group and Brazil.

This report lists the main Nicaraguan food laws, technical regulations and import requirements. As of June 1, 2022, there were no major changes to Nicaragua’s import procedures since the 2021 FAIRS report.

This report lists Nicaraguan requirements for export certification and import permits for agrochemicals, veterinary products, feedstuffs, and food products for human consumption. There were no significant changes to required export certificates since the 2021 Report.

FAS/Managua projects marketing year 2022/23 coffee production unchanged from the previous year at 2.7 million 60-kilogram bags, as political and economic turmoil in Nicaragua are expected to continue limiting investment in the sector despite strong export prices for the marketing year 2021/22 crop.

Earlier investments in mechanization, irrigation, and co-generation of electricity for the national energy grid have helped insulate the sugar industry from domestic political instability, but access to and pricing of fuel and fertilizer could negatively affect sugarcane production in marketing year 2022/23.

FAS/Managua expects 2022 peanut and oil production to remain flat from the previous year, with the vast majority of peanuts and virtually all peanut oil exported overseas.

The Government of Nicaragua will open an additional 1,533 metric tons of duty-free access for imported chicken meat to alleviate price pressures in the domestic market.

In 2021, Portugal imported $244 million worth of agricultural, fish, and forestry products from the United States. Outside the European Union Member States, the United States was the third main origin of Portuguese agricultural and related imports.

Portuguese cattle and swine sectors are currently restructuring to increase their domestic beef and pork production to meet domestic and export market demands. The meat sector is also working to open new strategic export markets, especially in the pork market.