Browse Data and Analysis

Though relatively small, the Costa Rican food processing sector relies on U.S. exporters to maintain critical supply chains. Proximity, reliability, and familiarity help make the United States the preferred supplier for a wide range of food processing ingredients, including wheat, corn, and animal proteins.

Industry experts expect a November 11, 2023, update to the Costa Rican biotechnology regulatory framework will facilitate utilization of innovative biotechnologies and reduce barriers to common applications of modern biotechnology.

Costa Rica declared the re-emergence of New World screwworm a national emergency on February 7, 2024, nearly 7 months after reporting its first case since the late 1990s.

FAS/San Jose collaborated with three Cooperators to highlight U.S. products tailored to Costa Rican food service demand at ExpHoRe - the largest trade show in Costa Rica targeting the hotel and restaurant sector.

The exporter guide provides an economic and market overview, as well as trends and practical tips for U.S. exporters on how to conduct business in Costa Rica in 2024.

FAS/San José expects a 15 percent decline in Costa Rica’s marketing year 2023/24 orange crop driving production down to 250,000 metric tons on suboptimal precipitation – associated with an El Niño weather system – during the critical fruit development period in 2023.

A July 29 seminar brought together roughly 100 Costa Rican craft brewers, retailers, restauranteurs, and enthusiasts to promote new brewing products and training courses to further develop the Costa Rican craft beer sector.

Genetically engineered crop area planted increased in 2023, though it remained small and limited to cotton for seed and pink pineapples.

Representing more than 8 percent of Costa Rica's national economy, tourism is a significant driver of food service demand and wields considerable influence over consumer-oriented product import suppliers to Costa Rica.

U.S. rough rice exports have plummeted and the decline of Costa Rican rice production has accelerated sharply following the Government of Costa Rica’s August 2022 tariff rate reduction on imported rice from all origins.

The Costa Rican retail sector continues to grow with an increasing number of modern supermarkets stocking a growing range of imported products.

This report outlines the regulatory requirements and import procedures for food and agricultural products entering Costa Rica.