Market
Almonds in Guatemala are primarily an import-dependent market, with trade dominated by shelled almonds (HS 080212) and a smaller in-shell segment (HS 080211). In 2023, Guatemala imported about USD 2.74 million of shelled almonds and about USD 0.22 million of in-shell almonds, with the United States as the leading origin for both categories. Market access and continuity depend heavily on meeting MAGA/VISAR phytosanitary import-permit and plant health requirements where applicable, alongside SAT customs declaration procedures. Import seasonality is mainly driven by exporter supply cycles (notably the California harvest window for U.S. supply), while consumer availability is typically year-round via imports.
Market RoleNet importer (import-dependent consumer market) with minor regional redistribution
Domestic RoleDomestic consumption supplied mainly by imports; limited local production is not evidenced in trade data
SeasonalityYear-round availability through imports; supply timing is influenced by exporter harvest cycles (e.g., U.S. California harvest typically August–mid-October).
Risks
Regulatory Compliance HighMissing or incorrect MAGA/VISAR phytosanitary permissions (where almonds are treated as regulated plant-origin goods/subproducts) or incomplete SAT customs declaration/supporting documentation can block clearance, trigger inspection holds, or require rework that disrupts delivery schedules.Pre-check product requirements in VISAR SIGIE, secure the correct VISAR import permission workflow before shipping, and align the SAT declaration package with required supporting documents referenced by SAT/RECAUCA.
Supply Concentration MediumGuatemala’s almond supply is heavily concentrated in U.S. origin (for both shelled and in-shell categories), increasing exposure to origin-side supply shocks, price movements, and shipment timing variability.Maintain qualified secondary origins (e.g., Chile/Turkey/Spain/China where commercially viable) and diversify contract timing across the crop year.
Logistics MediumLead times and landed costs are sensitive to ocean freight conditions and port-side delays, particularly for containerized shipments routed through Puerto Quetzal (Pacific) or Puerto Santo Tomás de Castilla (Caribbean).Use buffer stock and dual-port routing options when feasible; lock shipment schedules earlier during peak global container periods.
Labeling LowRetail-ready prepackaged almonds that do not meet RTCA 67.01.07:10 labeling requirements may require relabeling or face market access delays in formal retail channels.Run a pre-shipment label compliance check against RTCA 67.01.07:10 (Spanish-language, mandatory fields) for any consumer packs.
FAQ
Is Guatemala mainly an importer or an exporter of almonds?Guatemala is mainly an importer. UN Comtrade-derived WITS data shows Guatemala imported about USD 2.74 million of shelled almonds (HS 080212) and about USD 0.22 million of in-shell almonds (HS 080211) in 2023, while recorded exports are comparatively small.
Which HS codes are most relevant for almonds in Guatemala trade data?The main HS-6 codes are HS 080212 for shelled almonds and HS 080211 for in-shell almonds.
What are the key government touchpoints for importing almonds into Guatemala?Customs clearance is handled through SAT customs declaration procedures, and plant-origin import permissions and phytosanitary controls (where applicable) are handled by MAGA/VISAR, including consulting product requirements via the VISAR SIGIE tool.