MANAGUA – Nicaragua’s export sector is reporting 34 percent growth during the first eight months of 2008, compared with the same time period last year, according to the government’s ExportProcessingCenter, Cetrex.
Exports from January to August of this year totaled $1.14 billion, up from $854 million last year at this time.
Coffee continues to top the list of exports, earning $225 million so far this year, up from $138 million last year at this time, for a whopping 63 percent growth. Beef exports are also reporting import growth, at $139 million, up 16 percent from last year.
Other important exports are, in order of importance: dairy, peanuts, gold, shrimp (from shrimp farms), beans, sugarcane, lobster, cattle, drinks, metal and manufactured goods, processed coffee and fish.
The increase in exportation is being attributed to increases in production and the Central American Free-Trade Agreement with the United States (CAFTA), which entered into force here April 1, 2006.
Nicaragua’s export total for 2007 was $1.24 billion, an amount that is on track to be easily surpassed this year.
