Guatemala

The global urban consumer landscape is increasingly complex and difficult to navigate. Which cities should you choose for your consumer business expansion? To answer this and other questions, we are introducing the Euromonitor International Cities…

While Latin America’s digital landscape is less well developed than other regions globally, most measures continue to improve, with Coronavirus (COVID-19) also having served to drive the digital landscape development in 2020. With locked-down…

In Guatemala, the direct selling channel continues to rely heavily on in-person interactions as e-commerce penetration remains relatively low. The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant negative impact on direct selling in 2020 due to government…

In 2022, retail value sales of grocery retailers recorded substantial growth. Inflationary pressures were a key contributor to this strong value increase, while volume sales growth decelerated compared to the previous year. Overall, increases in the…

Pharmacies in Guatemala saw robust year-on-year sales growth in 2022. However, when viewed in constant terms (i.e., adjusted for inflation), the sales growth rate slowed from the previous year. This can be attributed to the circumstances of the…

Prior to 2020, e-commerce in Guatemala had been experiencing steady growth over the years, but adoption rates remained relatively low. However, the COVID-19 pandemic triggered a surge in e-commerce sales, particularly among more affluent consumers…

The retail sector in Guatemala continued to rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic in 2022, although at a slower pace than in 2021. Despite this, it still grew at a rate higher than inflation. The buoyancy of the retail sector was largely driven by…

This report assesses the business environment in Guatemala, focusing on the regulatory environment, stability of the financial system, FDI intake, labour market flexibility and skillset, trade openness, mobility infrastructure, ICT adoption and…

Chocolate confectionery is witnessing slower retail volume and current value growth in 2023, with higher unit prices and inflationary pressure restricting consumption. The initial boost provided by the return of impulse occasions and social…

Gum is one of the categories still suffering from the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic’s harsh impact. Despite the full return of consumer mobility, retail volume sales will remain below pre-pandemic levels in 2023. Industry sources note that fewer…

In 2023, the return of normal lifestyles, and the absence of any pandemic restrictions, continues to have a positive impact on ice cream sales. Volume growth is proving robust in both the foodservice and retail channels in 2023, with sales strong…

In 2023, savoury snacks is predicted to remain by far the best seller in snacks, in retail volume terms. The category continues to enjoy robust retail volume and current value growth in 2023 amid a well-developed culture for snacking occasions. Like…

Despite the challenging economy in 2023 and its negative impact on consumer purchasing power, snacks saw positive growth over the review period, notably in current value terms. Retail prices continued to rise amid further inflationary pressure in…

Sugar confectionery is a very mature category in Guatemala, with high levels of penetration and little room for growth. Except for standard mints and medicated confectionery, products are largely consumed by younger children, particularly at birthday…

Sweet biscuits, snack bars and fruit snacks have generally performed well since the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of these snacks fitted with the indulgence or healthier snacking trends in the country and have continued to thrive in the forthcoming years…

Rapid population expansion in Guatemala in 2021-2040 will be led by strong, yet declining, rates of natural change. Ageing is set to accelerate further, although Guatemala will continue to be young regionally due to historically high birth rates.…

Baby food is expected to register moderate current value growth, but constant value sales are expected to fall as persistent inflation cuts into profitability. That being said, the disruptions in supply that were caused by a recall of Similac in…

Butter and spreads is expected to register moderate current value growth, but constant value sales are expected to fall as persistent inflation cuts into profitability. In addition, with persistent inflation, consumers are expected to trade down –…

Cheese is expected to be one of the strongest performing dairy products in 2023, with double-digit value growth, as well as healthy volume growth. Lower-income buyers continue to consume unpackaged soft cheese (usually unbranded), which is available…

Dairy products and alternative is expected to register current value and volume growth, though inflation continues to hit companies’ profitability, with constant value sales expected to fall.

Though milk power is losing ground to shelf stable UHT milk, it still accounts for most volume sales. Milk powder is an important dairy product for many Guatemalan families because it is affordable and offers a source of nutrition and also has a…

Other dairy is a sizeable product in Guatemala, with cream, condensed and evaporated milk being popular products. However, in 2023, with inflation still an issue, other dairy is expected to register both current and constant value decline and only…

Overall, value sales for plant-based dairy are low, dominated by soy drinks and other plant-based milk. That being said, plant-based dairy is expected to register the highest volume growth among all dairy and alternatives in 2023. Value sales are…

Yoghurt is expected to register both a decline in current and constant value sales in 2023, though volume sales are expected to increase moderately. With inflation continuing to be an issue, consumers look to trade down and opt for cheaper brands. In…

Analgesics is set to see a decline in sales in 2023 as consumers have migrated away from aspirin in an uncertain economic environment and sought to prioritise household essentials, while turning to other categories to treat basic ailments such as…

Consumer health has seen demand dampened by consumers being confronted with very high inflation. The rate of 9.2% in 2022 was the highest experienced in decades. As a result, more consumers have been forced to prioritise household spending on…

Cough, cold and allergy (hay fever) remedies are widely consumed consumer health items in the Guatemalan market. These products have established broad distribution throughout the country, with products available throughout the modern and traditional…

Top topical antifungals brands such as Canesten (Bayer), Lamisil (Haleon), and Unesia (Genomma) keep this segment competitive as each continues vying for more market share. Consumer demand for these products is expected to remain strong over the…

Towards the end of the review period, direct seller Herbalife launched a new product called Immunity Essentials. This supplement can be mixed into water, tea or other drinks, and is taken once a day to support the functioning of the immune system. It…

Digestive remedies is set to see positive growth in 2023, with hectic modern lifestyles and convenience orientated diets supporting demand. As many consumers have returned to dining out, consuming more street food, and in general straying from the…

Similar to other countries in the region, Guatemala boasts a long history and strong tradition of herbal/traditional remedies and practices of natural medicine. Many of these products are commercialised informally, sometimes in unpackaged or…

Even with the high rate of inflation and growing economic uncertainty in Guatemala, paediatric consumer health is seeing a positive performance. As children are back to in-person learning on a full-time basis and are once again participating…

Steep unit price increases for many sports nutrition products proved to be too much for the category towards the end of the review period, leading to current value decline in 2021 and 2022. Supply chain issues related to protein availability and…

The pandemic period that ushered in a boom for vitamin sales is coming to a close. Many consumers have placed the COVID-19 period in the rear-view mirror and are looking ahead to a world where the SARS-CoV-2 virus is not a constant worry. The…

Weight management and wellbeing sales are set to rise in 2023, led in part by rising unit prices. Strong retail sales growth has been observed in meal replacement, slimming teas, and weight loss supplements, while supplement nutrition drinks has seen…

The wound care category is set to see volume sales continue to fall in 2023, though at a slower pace than in the previous year. The COVID-19 crisis saw people ;largely confined to their homes and less likely to experience the kinds of minor injuries…

A weak rule of law is adversely affecting economic freedom, whilst Guatemala is witnessing political instability and suppression of freedom of expression. Although resilient, output growth is slowing as remittances reduce and the US economy falters…

In 2023, inflation has begun to subside in Guatemala although retail price inflation continues to impact the basic food basket. Lower prices of some imported goods, regulatory interest rate policies and reduced agricultural production costs have…

Stand-up pouches have become increasingly popular in the edible oil category in 2023. This stand-up pouch is becoming more prevalent in the landscape, as it is considered as a useful alternative to PET and glass bottles. Capullo from Naturaceites SA…

In 2023, meals and soups witnessed a moderate lift in retail volume sales as consumption of dry soups increased. Standard brands, including Maggi, Malher and Knorr, continue to characterise soup in 2023 with similar products, flavours and unit…

Despite its maturity, ketchup is witnessing robust growth as lower-quality value offerings gain traction in the category. The surge in retail prices has created a favourable environment for domestic producers, supporting cheaper brands, such as B&B…

The jams and preserves category holds significant importance in terms of retail volume sales, following substantial growth during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2023, volume growth has returned to normal rates with retail prices stabilising. Local brands…

Baked good is expected to register both moderate constant value and volume growth in 2023, in spite of continuing high inflation. Flat breads used for tortilla continues to account for most volume sales. However, prices have increased in 2023, and…

Breakfast cereal is expected to register moderate volume growth, but marginal constant value growth, as inflation continues to hit profit margins. Imported brands in particular are hit by price rises as pressures from energy bills, transport, labour…

Processed fruit and vegetables is expected to register healthy growth in 2023, both in terms of constant value and volume growth. Products such as shelf stable black beans, which account for most volume sales, are economical and nutritious and appeal…

Processed meat and seafood is expected to register a fall in constant value sales and minimal volume growth, as inflation continues to hit profit margins. Prices continue to rise as pressures from energy bills, transport, labour costs and the cost of…

Rice continues to register price rises, but to a lesser extent than other staple products. Rice, as well as pasta, are seen as affordable staples and are consumed daily. There is also a wide range of brands available, across varying price points, and…

Staples foods is expected to expected to register current value and volume growth, though inflation continues to hit companies’ profitability, with constant value growth expected to be more muted.

Although Guatemalans have been eager to resume pre-pandemic habits, the consumption of water in bulk 5-gallon format continued to rise in 2023. Due to the increased awareness of healthy lifestyles and practices, household water consumption has become…

In 2023, carbonates continued to witness retail price increases, although to a lesser extent than in previous years. Commodities such as sugar continued to show volatility in international markets. By April 2023, sugar had reached its highest price…