Browse Data and Analysis

This report provides economic, market, and regulatory analysis for U.S. exporters looking to do business in Costa Rica, highlighting trends and offering a practical overview of the local market.

This report provides information and guidance on the export certification requirements for U.S. products entering Costa Rica. This report supplements the 2024 Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards (FAIRS) Report prepared by the San...

This report outlines the regulatory requirements and import procedures for food and agricultural products entering Costa Rica. The only significant regulatory change since the 2023 report was the adoption of a Central American Technical Regulation...

On June 4, a Costa Rican court restored the Chaves administration's policy of dramatically lower tariffs on imported milled and rough rice, overturning an earlier court ruling that reversed the lower tariffs in April 2024.

FAS/San José anticipates Costa Rica's Ministry of Foreign Trade to allocate 2024 Dominican Republic - Central America Free Trade Agreement rice quota allocations by the end of April, effectively constraining the availability of U.S. duty-free rice to the final eight months of 2024. Though Costa Rica typically allocates quota volumes in December of the preceding year, calculations of 2024 volumes have been contested by importers following an extraordinary process resulting from a 2022 cyber attack.

Costa Rica reinstated 35 percent tariffs on non-U.S.-origin rice after an administrative court overturned an August 2022 tariff reduction and the Government’s appeal was rejected. Demand for U.S. rice has surged following the tariff restoration on reduced South American-origin rice competitiveness.

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.

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.