Market research

Cotton seeds market in Central America, 2026

Release date: Mar 28, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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File format: docx, xlsx

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"Central America" region includes following countries:

Belize

Costa Rica

El Salvador

Guatemala

Honduras

Mexico

Nicaragua

Panama

Earlier Report Observations

The cotton seeds market volume in Central America showed considerable volatility between 2018 and 2023. Starting at 618.5 thousand tons in 2018, it declined to a low of 463.4 thousand tons in 2021, a 25% drop, before recovering to 526.5 thousand tons in 2022. However, volume fell again to 410.0 thousand tons in 2023.

In 2024, imports of cotton seeds reached 75.4 thousand tons, slightly above the previous year. Market dynamics were influenced by increased seed treater adoption among smallholder cooperatives in neighboring Mexico, which improved seed treatment rates, and regulatory changes in the United States that raised labor costs and encouraged biological seed treatments with lower toxicity.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Central America
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Central America in kind, 2018-2023, K t
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  2. 5.2.2. Dynamics of production structure by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023
  3. 5.2.3. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  4. 5.2.4. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
  5. 5.2.5. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2023
6. Imports
1. 6.1. Imports (Direct Data*)
  1. 6.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Belize in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Belize by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Belize in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Belize by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/kg
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Belize, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Belize by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
2. 6.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Belize in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Belize by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Belize in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Belize by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/kg
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Belize, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Belize by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
7. Exports
1. 7.1. Exports (Direct Data*)
  1. 7.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Belize in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Belize by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Belize in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Belize by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/kg
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Belize, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Belize by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
2. 7.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Belize in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Belize by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Belize in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Belize by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/kg
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Belize, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Belize by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, K $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, K $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
1. 9.1. Direct Data
  1. 9.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 9.2. Mirror Data
  1. 9.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production cotton seeds in Central America

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of cotton seeds, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of cotton seeds, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Central America's cotton seed production declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, the region produced 390.8 thousand tons of cotton seeds, representing a 26.0% decrease from the previous year. Production fell by 27.9% between 2017 and 2020, averaging an annual decline of 10.3%. The peak production occurred in 2018 with 622.9 thousand tons, which also saw the largest annual increase of 14.9%.

Annual dynamics of production in Central America in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	14.9%	(15.3%)	(26.0%)	(10.3%)

Source: SHEV.io

Exports cotton seeds from Central America

Exports in kind, K t

The market showed significant volatility during this period. Export volumes varied dramatically, with a 129-fold difference between the low in 2019 and the high in 2020. In 2020, Central America exported 7.9 thousand tons of cotton seeds, marking an extraordinary year-over-year increase of 12,807.4%. The lowest export volume was recorded in 2019 at just 0.1 thousand tons, which also experienced the largest decline of 98.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Central America in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	43.9%	(98.6%)	12 807.4%	36.2%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the United States was the exclusive export partner for cotton seeds, accounting for 100.0% of all shipments from Central America.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Central America in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

Export values displayed an unstable pattern throughout the timeframe. There was a 29-fold variation between the low in 2019 and the high in 2020. In 2020, Central America's cotton seed exports reached 1,964 thousand US dollars, showing a remarkable year-over-year growth of 2,832.8%. The minimum export value was recorded in 2019 at 67 thousand US dollars, which also saw the largest decline of 95.7%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Central America in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	26.3%	(95.7%)	2 832.8%	16.5%

Source: SHEV.io

During 2017-2020, the United States accounted for virtually all cotton seed export value from Central America, maintaining a 100.0% share of total flows.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Central America in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports cotton seeds to Central America

Imports in kind, K t

Import volumes exhibited extreme volatility during these years. There was a staggering 17,564-fold difference between the peak in 2017 and the trough in 2018. In 2020, Central America imported cotton seeds totaling the previous year's value, showing a moderate increase of 8.7% compared to 2019. The lowest import volume occurred in 2018 at 0.0 thousand tons, which experienced a complete decline of 100.0%. The largest increase was recorded in 2019 with an extraordinary growth of 1,396,993.5%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Central America in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(100.0%)	1 396 993.5%	8.7%	(4.7%)

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, cotton seed imports to Central America were almost entirely sourced from the United States, which consistently held a 100.0% share.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Central America in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

In 2020, Central America's cotton seed imports reached 36,564 thousand US dollars, reflecting a solid 22.6% increase over the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, import values grew by 17.2%, averaging an annual increase of 5.4%. The lowest import value was recorded in 2019 at 29,831 thousand US dollars, which saw the largest decline of 34.0%. The peak import value occurred in 2018 at 45,181 thousand US dollars, which also experienced the largest annual increase of 44.8%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Central America in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	44.8%	(34.0%)	22.6%	5.4%

Source: SHEV.io

Throughout 2017-2020, the United States dominated Central America's cotton seed import market in value terms, consistently accounting for 100.0% of total imports.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Central America in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io