Classification
Product TypeRaw Material
Product FormDried
Industry PositionPrimary Agricultural Product
Raw Material
Market
Dried red kidney beans (common bean, Phaseolus vulgaris) sit within Guatemala’s staple bean market, where domestic production is widely present and strongly linked to household consumption. Guatemala is also a significant importer of dried kidney beans under HS 071333; UN Comtrade data via WITS reports 2023 imports of about USD 36.26 million and 31,622,100 kg, with major suppliers including Argentina, the United States, and Nicaragua. ICTA describes Guatemala’s bean sector as largely oriented to self-consumption and smallholder production, with constraints including drought/low soil fertility and important disease pressures such as golden yellow mosaic. For trade flows, MAGA/VISAR administers phytosanitary permitting and documentation (including phytosanitary certification from the exporting country’s NPPO) for plant products entering Guatemala.
Market RoleImport-dependent consumer market with domestic production (net importer) and limited regional exports
Domestic RoleStaple food crop for household consumption; significant smallholder production
SeasonalityGuatemala’s bean crop calendar includes Primera (main rainy-season planting), Postrera (second season), and in some zones a Verano planting; timing is managed so harvest and post-harvest handling align with drier periods to protect grain quality.
Specification
Primary VarietyPhaseolus vulgaris (red kidney bean class / common bean)
Secondary Variety- ICTA Quetzal
- ICTA Jutiapán
- ICTA Tamazulapa
- ICTA San Martín
- ICTA Ligero
Physical Attributes- Clean, sound whole beans with uniform color expected by buyers
- Free from live insects and visible mold growth; minimal foreign matter emphasized in pulse standards
Compositional Metrics- Moisture content is a core acceptance parameter for pulses; Codex guidance discusses selecting maximum moisture levels appropriate to climate and storage practice, and ISO provides a reference method for moisture determination in pulses.
Grades- Commercial specifications commonly set tolerances for defects (broken/damaged), foreign matter, insect damage, and moisture, aligned with Codex pulse quality concepts.
Packaging- Packaging should safeguard hygienic, technological, nutritional, and organoleptic qualities as described in Codex pulses guidance.
Supply Chain
Value Chain- Harvest/arranque → plant drying → threshing (aporreo) → grain cleaning (limpieza/venteo) → grain drying → storage treatment → bagging → warehouse → distribution/importer channels
Temperature- Ambient dry storage is typical; quality risk rises with heat plus high relative humidity because it accelerates storage insect activity and mold risk.
Shelf Life- Shelf-life is primarily driven by moisture control, storage pest management, and preventing re-wetting during storage and transport.
Freight IntensityMedium
Transport ModeMultimodal
Risks
Regulatory Compliance HighGuatemala’s phytosanitary import process for plant products can stop shipments if the importer lacks the MAGA/VISAR import authorization and the exporting country’s NPPO phytosanitary certificate (including any additional declarations required by MAGA), or if required quarantine treatment evidence is missing.Confirm MAGA/VISAR SIGIE requirements for the specific bean product form and origin; obtain the NPPO phytosanitary certificate with correct additional declarations; pre-validate document consistency (invoice, origin, lot IDs) before dispatch.
Plant Health MediumICTA identifies golden yellow mosaic virus as a major production constraint in parts of Guatemala (notably lower-altitude areas) and lists multiple diseases and insect pests as important limiting factors; localized outbreaks can tighten local supply and raise prices.For Guatemala-origin sourcing, prefer suppliers using ICTA-recommended varieties and integrated pest/disease management; diversify sourcing across regions and maintain contingency import supply.
Climate MediumDrought and other abiotic stresses (including low soil fertility and temperature stress) are identified by ICTA as key constraints for bean production in Guatemala; seasonal rainfall anomalies can disrupt availability and quality.Use multi-origin sourcing and contract flexibility across Primera/Postrera cycles; include quality clauses tied to moisture/defects for high-risk seasons.
Storage Quality MediumWarm and humid conditions increase risks of storage insects (including bruchids) and quality degradation; pulse standards emphasize low foreign matter and absence of mold/contaminants, making moisture control and storage hygiene critical for marketability.Specify and test moisture content using a recognized method for pulses; apply appropriate storage pest control and maintain dry, clean warehousing to prevent re-wetting and infestation.
Logistics MediumGuatemala’s supply relies on both overseas and regional origins for HS 071333; freight and inland logistics volatility can affect landed cost and continuity of supply for a bulk staple commodity.Split procurement across sea and regional land suppliers; use staged shipments and safety stock for key demand periods; align Incoterms and inland delivery obligations clearly.
Sustainability- Drought risk management in the Dry Corridor (Corredor Seco) and other bean zones highlighted by ICTA as a key abiotic constraint
- Soil fertility constraints identified by ICTA; beans’ nitrogen-fixing role is part of agronomic sustainability discussions in Guatemala
Labor & Social- Smallholder-dominant structure and food-security role (ICTA; MAGA survey summaries) can increase buyer focus on smallholder inclusion, fair trading practices, and documentation capacity in fragmented supply.
FAQ
Which documents are commonly needed to request a phytosanitary import permit in Guatemala for plant-origin products such as dried beans?Guatemala’s government service listing for the MAGA phytosanitary import permit (“Permiso fitosanitario de importación”) describes requirements including a copy of the exporting country’s NPPO phytosanitary certificate (with any additional declarations requested by MAGA), a commercial invoice, and (when MAGA requires it) a quarantine treatment certificate.
What are the main bean planting seasons referenced for Guatemala?ICTA’s “Manual para producción de frijol” describes Primera plantings typically in May–June and Postrera plantings in September–October, and notes that in parts of the South and North there are Verano plantings between December and January.
Which countries are major suppliers of dried kidney beans to Guatemala in recent trade data?UN Comtrade data accessed via the World Bank WITS tool for HS 071333 shows Guatemala importing significant volumes in 2023, with Argentina, the United States, and Nicaragua among the largest reported suppliers (with additional supply from Brazil and regional partners).