Costa Rica highlights export sector resilience with 5% annual growth

Costa Rican authorities have highlighted the remarkable resilience of the nation's export sector, which has posted a 5% year-on-year growth in goods exports for the first seven months of 2026. This performance underscores the sector's ability to navigate the complexities of international markets.

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These data reflect the resilience of our exporting sector and the strength of an increasingly diversified offering, both in products and markets, which allows Costa Rica to respond to changes in international trade and continue generating growth opportunities.

Official figures reveal that between January and July 2026, Costa Rica's exports totaled $13.821 billion, a notable increase compared to the same period in the previous year. The Vice Minister of Foreign Trade, Arianna Arce, emphasized that these results showcase the strength of a diversified offering in both products and markets, enabling Costa Rica to adapt to global trade shifts and foster continued growth opportunities.

Key sectors contributed to this positive trend. The medical device sector, Costa Rica's largest exporter, recorded $6.399 billion in sales, marking a 2% increase. The agricultural sector followed with $2.371 billion, up 6%, and the food industry achieved $1.707 billion, an 8% rise. Notably, the electrical and electronics sector experienced a substantial 22% surge, reaching $735 million in exports. The only sector to register a decline was the plastic industry, which saw a 5% decrease.

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Despite the challenges facing the export sector, we observe growth in our exports, but it is equally important to observe how our sectors are responding to changes in international trade.

Exports from free trade zones amounted to $9.309 billion, reflecting a 4% growth, while companies operating outside these zones contributed $4.375 billion, an 8% increase. Laura López, the general manager of the Foreign Trade Promoter, stressed the importance of this diversification capacity in mitigating risks and bolstering the export sector's resilience. This follows a strong performance in 2025, when Costa Rican goods exports grew by 14% to a record $22.855 billion.

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That capacity for diversification is fundamental to reduce risks and strengthen the resilience of our export sector.