Browse Data and Analysis

The Caribbean Basin region continues to experience growth, driven primarily by the steady rise in tourism, which in turn impacts consumer demand.

FAS Managua forecasts a strong coffee harvest of 2.58 million 60-kilogram bags for MY 2025/26. This optimistic outlook is attributed to increased agriculture input applications (mainly fertilizers) due to high coffee prices and expectations for a more balanced rainy season.

Paraguay’s wheat exports inn marketing year (MY) 2025/26 are forecast at 550,000 metric tons (MT), edging up slightly from the previous year, supported by a modest expansion in planted area even as yields may decline marginally.

FAS/Managua projects MY 2025/26 sugar production to reach 840,000 metric tons, up ten percent from MY 2024/25, assuming a more balanced rainy season and an increase in sugarcane plantations.

Paraguay’s soybean production is forecast to rebound to 10.9 million metric tons (MMT) in MY2025/26 on improved weather and modest acreage gains, following weather-driven losses the previous year.

This report highlights the food processing industry, its drivers, key players, and market landscape in the Caribbean Basin. The region relies heavily on imports, and the United States is the largest supplier of food ingredients.

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.

Paraguayan beef exports in 2025 are forecast down at 450,000 tons carcass weight equivalent with an expected smaller beef supply after a very large slaughter in 2024.

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.