Exports from the Region

The Region is predominantly an exporter of CITES-listed species, with direct export transactions outnumbering direct import transactions by approximately six to one over the period 2003-2012. In total, 29,123 direct export transactions were reported by countries in the Region in their annual reports to CITES. Over the same period, their trading partners recorded 20% fewer import transactions from the Region (23,220 transactions). The number of direct export transactions peaked in 2007 with 3918 transactions and, while variable, decreased between 2007 and 2012; transactions recorded by trading partners remained relatively constant over the ten year period (Figure 1.4). Based on the number of reported transactions, Costa Rica was the main exporter in the Region, accounting for 46% and 33% of direct export transactions based on exporter- and importer-reported data, respectively (Figure 1.5).

Figure 1.4. Number of direct export transactions as reported by countries of export in the Region and by importers (trading partners), 2003-2012.

Figure 1.5. Number of direct export transactions by exporting country, as reported by exporters (the Region) and importers (trading partners), 2003-2012.

Of the exporter-reported transactions, the majority (81%) comprised artificially propagated (65%) or captive-bred (source C) (16%) commodities, with 16% comprising wild-sourced commodities (Figure 1.6). According to importer-reported data, 57% of transactions comprised artificially propagated commodities, 21% captive-bred (source C) and 17% wild-sourced.

The proportion of wild-sourced transactions decreased every year 2008-2010, reaching its lowest level over the ten year period in 2010; conversely, the proportion of captive-bred/artificially-propagated transactions increased 2003-2011. Shifts in source over time are discussed further in Chapter III. The majority of direct export transactions reported by the Region (91%) involved trade for commercial purposes (Figure 1.7).

Figure 1.6. Proportion and number of direct export transactions from the Region by Source as reported by exporters, 2003-2012 (n=29,123).

Figure 1.7. Proportion and number of direct export transactions from the Region by Purpose as reported by exporters, 2003-2012 (n=29,123). ‘Other’ includes purpose codes ‘B’, ‘E’, ‘G’, ‘L’, ‘Q’ and ‘Z’.

A breakdown of trade by country is presented in Table 1.1. In the case of Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic and Guatemala, more than 50% of export transactions comprised artificially propagated plants; 97% of export transactions from El Salvador comprised captive-bred reptiles (Table 1.1). The top five animals and plants exported by each country (on the basis of quantity) are also provided within the table; again, the majority of exports are in captive-bred and artificially propagated specimens. For wild-sourced trade, five animal species (Strombus gigas, Boa constrictor, Meleagris ocellata, Montastrea annularis, and Caiman crocodilus fuscus) and two plant species (Swietenia macrophylla and Cedrela odorata) recorded in trade as source ‘W’ emerge within the top five of at least one country and are traded at levels in excess of 100 units (all terms/units considered). Species showing noteworthy patterns of trade are explored in more detail in Chapter II.  With the exception of Honduras, all countries in the Region reported the United States as the top destination for export transactions; in the case of Honduras this was the Netherlands.

Table 1.1a. Overview of exports by the Region, by country, as reported by exporters (the Region), 2003-2012.

Table 1.1b. Overview of exports by the Region, by country, as reported by exporters (the Region), 2003-2012.

Main trading partners

Based on the number of direct export transactions as recorded by the seven countries within the Region, the majority of trade (56%) was to North America, followed by Europe (32%; Figure 1.8). Exports to the United States alone accounted for 48% of total transactions reported (Table 1.2).

Figure 1.8. Destination of reported direct export transactions from the Region, by CITES Region and by Kingdom, 2003-2012. 113 transactions were reported without a specified destination country.

Table 1.2. Top 10 destination countries of direct export transactions from the Region, reported by exporters (the Region) and importers (trading partners), 2003-2012.

Trade by taxonomic group

Plant commodities were the most highly traded items, accounting for 66% of direct export transactions (Figure 1.9). When quantities are analysed, the most highly traded commodities were live plants (~42.5 million individuals), leaves (~27 million), live reptiles (~4 million) and invertebrate meat (~2.7 million kg; Table 1.3). Of the top five taxon/term combinations exported by the Region, three were plants (Box 1.1). Cycas revoluta leaves were the highest traded commodity according to exporter reported data, with over 26 million leaves directly exported 2003-2012. Of all wild-sourced exports, Strombus gigas meat was the top commodity in trade, with exporter-reported quantities of over two million kg. Importer-reported data showed similar patterns to exporter-reported data in terms of the top bird, reptile, amphibian and plant commodities exported (Table 1.4).

Figure 1.9. Direct export transactions from the Region by taxonomic group, 2003-2012 (n= 29,123).

Table 1.3. Top commodities (on the basis of quantities in trade) within each taxonomic group directly exported by the Region, as reported by exporters, by source, 2003-2012. Trade for scientific purposes (purpose S) was excluded. No direct exports of fish were reported 2003-2012. Figures rounded to nearest whole number, where applicable.

Table 1.4. Top commodities (on the basis of quantities in trade) within each taxonomic group directly exported by the Region, as reported by importers (trading partners), by source, 2003-2012. Trade for scientific purposes (purpose S) was excluded. Figures rounded to nearest whole number, where applicable.