Costa Rica
U.S. Trade with Costa Rica in 2023
Export Market Rank
#23 Among U.S. Agricultural Export Markets
Total Export Value
$1.01 Billion
3-Year Average
$1.01 Billion
Compound Average Growth
5.2% (2014-2023)
Total Export Value 2014 - 2023
Export Value by Commodity 2023
Top 10 Exports to Costa Rica in 2023
| Commodity | Total Value (USD) | Total Volume (Metric Tons) | 10-Year Average Value (USD) | 10-Year Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corn | $145.54 Million | 467,775 | $147.87 Million | -4% |
| Soybeans | $145.51 Million | 256,298 | $120.69 Million | 126% |
| Soybean Meal | $83.17 Million | 160,753 | $37.07 Million | 282% |
| Poultry Meat & Prods. (excl. eggs) | $64.2 Million | 35,862 | $32.17 Million | 335% |
| Pork & Pork Products | $44.27 Million | 12,490 | $24.13 Million | 213% |
| Dairy Products | $42.84 Million | 8,295 | $26.25 Million | 170% |
| Dog & Cat Food | $39.35 Million | 17,906 | $27.8 Million | 144% |
| Processed Vegetables | $36.75 Million | 26,371 | $31.15 Million | 39% |
| Food Preparations | $33.16 Million | 7,141 | $23.9 Million | 81% |
| Baked Goods | $30.48 Million | 9,240 | $25.49 Million | 52% |
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.
FAS/San José expects Costa Rican sugar production in marketing year 2023/24 to recover from a 20-year low in the previous year and to continue to rise in marketing year 2024/25 on expanded area planted to sugarcane as producers in Guanacaste continue to abandon rice production.
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.
News and Features
USDA's Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Alexis Taylor arrived in Panama City today to launch an agribusiness trade mission. Taylor and a delegation of representatives from agribusiness and farm organizations and state departments of agriculture look to develop stronger ties and build economic partnerships between the United States and Panama and markets throughout CAFTA-DR region.
USDA's Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Alexis M. Taylor will lead a delegation of 26 agribusinesses and farm organizations to Panama City, Panama, from March 19 to 23.
Private exporters reported the following activity: 144,907 MT of corn for delivery to Costa Rica during MY 2022/2023 and 105,664 MT of corn for delivery to unknown destinations during MY 2021/2022.