Export Picture Good, Despite Crisis

Minister of Foreign Trade Anabel Gozalez predicts that, despite a grim economic picture for the European Union and a stubborn recovery for the United States, that 2012 exports will reach the $15 billion goal set last year.

The health reform (so-called Obamacare) in the United States going into effect will aid the sales of medical equipment that are produced in this country, she predicts.

Sales during the first half of the year reached $5.85 billion, pushed by a strong market for electronic goods and food products grown here. That is a healthy 11% increase over the first six months of 2011.

Gonzalez told the national newspaper La Nacion that foreign sales increases will probably attain three times that of the increase average worldwide of 3.7% predicted by the World Trade Organization.

The Central Bank reported that during the 2012 first quarter, sales of goods and services abroad reached $4.54 billion, a sterling 16% more than the same period a year ago.

"If export behavior remains as it has up to now," said Gonzalez, "we expect to achieve our previously set goal which will mean reaching our goals for the third consecutive year."

The Foreign Trade Promotion agency PROCOMER reports that sales increases during the first six months were led by non-ferrous mineral products such as ceramics, electronics, medical equipment and foodstuffs.

A PROCOMER release had an encouraging word in an international ambiance of uncertainty: "Diversification in products and destinations serves to protect the country from external situations. No one is exempt from these effects. The U.S. economy is growing, but slowly, and in Asia has slowed down."

Luis Loria, exectuve director of the chamber of Exporters, was also cautiously optimistic about reaching the export goal.. But it was because of the ability of local export executives, he added, not the international economic situation.

Luis Ferando Monge, Crecex (once only the importer chamber, but now with a quarter of members being exporters) was less optimistic, reported La Nacion, but hoped that the early year record could continue.

Surprisingly, the political football of Obamacare, which requires that everyone in the U.S. have contracted health care, provided Gonzalez with a good part of her buoyancy. "It will require 20-40 million North Americans to have access to medical service apart from emergency care, meaning the acquisition of more medical devices," she said.

Whether this situation will continue into next year after the November U.S. elections is a question, however. Presidential challenger Gov. Mitt Romney has vowed to repeal the act if he wins.

By Rod Hughes, Fijatevos.com