Currently, Guatemala exports around three quarters of total production. Guatemala is considered the seventh largest exporter in the world and third in Latin America. In the year 2001, Guatemalan exports are expected to remain steady. The total U.S. quota allocation for Guatemala is 50,549 MT, of which 22,867.15 MT had been used as of April 12 2000. Dairy Products In Guatemala, almost 90 percent of the dairy consumption is imported.
Powdered milk is a very competitive market segment.
Only 10 percent of the supply in the local market is made in Guatemala. U.S. closest competitors are New Zealand, Denmark, Holland, Costa Rica, Ireland, United Kingdom, and Panama. Mexico and Costa Rica have placed themselves in a good market situation with a UHT milk with no need of refrigeration with respectable success, indicating that the market is in search of something new of a higher quality and definitely, better packaging. Price differentials of products from the United States and those from Guatemala, may reach to more than 100 percent. However, the packaging, labeling and quality of U.S. product is typically superior.