Central American exports summed $10.45 billion FOB in the first four months of 2012, a growth rate of 6.8%.   A statement from the Secretariat of Central American Economic Integration (SIECA) reads:

Exports in Central America reached an FOB value of $10,450.9 million during the first four months of 2012, a rate of growth of 6.8% compared to the value of exports in the period January-April 2011 (U.S. $9.7826 billion) .

The product groups contributing most to growth in exports, ranked by Chapter in the Central American Tariff System-(SAC by its Spanish initials)-, representing 63.2% (U.S. $ 6.60 billion) of total exports, are:

• Coffee, tea; mate and spices with U.S. $1.83 billion (17.6%).

• Edible fruit and nuts, citrus peel or melons with $1.05 billion (10.1%).

• Machinery, appliances and electrical equipment, and parts thereof; sound recording or reproductions; sound recording or reproducing sound and image in television, and parts and accessories of such articles to U.S. $1.03 billion (9.9%).

• Sugars and sugar confectionery with U.S. $741 million (7.1%).

• optical instruments and appliances, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical and surgical instruments and apparatus, parts and accessories of such instruments or apparatus with U.S. $474 million (4.5%).

• Plastic and glassware with $319 million (3.1%).

• Animal fats and oils or vegetable products, vegetable or animal waxes with U.S. $307 million (2.9%).

• Clothing and accessories (); apparel; knitwear with U.S. $296 million (2.8%).

• pearls (natural) or cultured, precious stones, precious metals clad with precious metal (plaque) and articles thereof, imitation jewelry, coins with U.S. $269 million (2.6%).

• Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation, bituminous substances, mineral waxes with U.S. $265 million (2.5%).