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Foreign Trade in Figures

Costa Rica expects a deficit trade balance, which should be around 5% of GDP, during the next five years. The structural deficit is due to the fact that a large proportion of the manufacturing products that the country exports depends of the import of intermediary products and the country also counts with imports in terms of daily consumption goods. 

In terms of trade barriers, customs duties are relatively low, in general, they do not exceed 15% with the exception of dairy products, livestock and agricultural products. No tax is levied on imports coming from Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua. However there is an export tax on bananas and coffee.

Costa Rica offers many incentives for export companies. Not only the country contributes to export subsidies but also offers tax exemptions to export companies. A greater transparency is expected due to a rational and global evaluation of this incentive policy which could, in a long term, encourage foreign trade.

Costa Rica's main trading partners are the countries of the NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement), specifically the United States, Canada and Mexico, as well as the European Union and China. Since 2009, the country also has signed a free-trade agreement with the United States, Central America and the Dominican Republic (Dr-CAFTA). These two agreements make of the United States the main trading partner of Costa Rica.

 
Foreign Trade Indicators 20072008200920102011
Imports of Goods (million USD) 12,95215,37211,39513,57016,220
Exports of Goods (million USD) 9,3379,5048,7849,34110,408
Imports of Services (million USD) 1,8141,8891,4071,7691,904
Exports of Services (million USD) 3,5214,1173,6944,1494,709
Imports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) 44-1218-
Exports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) 10-212-
Trade Balance (million USD) -2,985-5,013-2,039-3,576-
Current Account (million USD) -1,646-2,752-537--
Foreign Trade (in % of GDP) 1021018586-
Imports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 54564244-
Exports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 49464341-

Source: WTO - World Trade Organization ; World Bank - Last Available Data.

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Main Partner Countries

Main Customers
(% of Exports)
2010
United States 37.4%
Netherlands 7.0%
Hong Kong 4.8%
Panama 4.8%
Nicaragua 4.2%
See More Countries 41.8%
Main Suppliers
(% of Imports)
2010
United States 46.8%
China 7.1%
Mexico 6.4%
Japan 3.6%
Colombia 3.6%
See More Countries 32.5%

Source: Comtrade, Last Available Data

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Main Products

Main Exports
(% of Exports)
2010
Electronic integrated circuits and microassembliesElectronic integrated circuits and microassemblies 10.3%
Parts and accessories (other than covers, carrying...Parts and accessories (other than covers, carrying cases and the like) suitable for use solely or principally with machines of heading 8469 to 8472, n.e.s. 9.0%
Instruments and appliances used in medical,...Instruments and appliances used in medical, surgical, dental or veterinary sciences, incl. scintigraphic apparatus, other electro-medical apparatus and sight-testing instruments, n.e.s. 8.3%
Bananas, incl. plantains, fresh or driedBananas, incl. plantains, fresh or dried 7.8%
Dates, figs, pineapples, avocados, guavas, mangoes...Dates, figs, pineapples, avocados, guavas, mangoes and mangosteens, fresh or dried 7.5%
See More Products 57.1%
Main Imports
(% of Imports)
2010
Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous...Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals (excl. crude); preparations containing >= 70% by weight of petroleum oils or of oils obtained from bituminous minerals, these oils being the basic constituents of the preparations, n.e.s.; waste oils containing mainly petroleum or bituminous minerals 9.3%
Electronic integrated circuits and microassembliesElectronic integrated circuits and microassemblies 8.4%
Medicaments consisting of mixed or unmixed...Medicaments consisting of mixed or unmixed products for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, put up in measured doses "incl. those in the form of transdermal administration" or in forms or packings for retail sale (excl. goods of heading 3002, 3005 or 3006) 3.2%
Printed circuitsPrinted circuits 2.9%
Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally...Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally designed for the transport of persons, incl. station wagons and racing cars (excl. motor vehicles of heading 8702) 2.9%
See More Products 73.3%

Source: Comtrade, Last Available Data

 

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Commercial Policy

Main International Economic Cooperation
Member of World Trade Organisation
Consult the Free Trade Agreement signed by Costa Rica.
Member of Central American Common Market (CACM)
Member of
Latin American Integration Association (LAIA)  (Observer)
Member of Group of 77 (G-77)
Assessment of Commercial Policy
Country’s commercial policy
Barriers to exchanges
Average Customs Duty (Excluding Agricultural Products)
5.89%
 

List of tariffs and local taxes that apply to your product on our service Customs duties and local taxes

 
Useful Resources
Customs web site
National Organization of Intellectual Property
The National Registy of Intelectual Property.
 

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Learn more about How to Export to Costa Rica on Globaltrade.net, the Directory for International Trade Service Providers.
 

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Last Updates: May 2012

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