Top Costa Rica Imports 2018
In 2018, Costa Rica bought US$16.6 billion worth of imported products down by -3.6% since 2014 but up by 4% from 2017 to 2018.
Top 10 Costa Rica Imports from the US
America's exports to Costa Rica amounted to
$6.5 billion or 39.1% of its overall imports.
1. Mineral fuels including oil: $1.7 billion
2. Plastics: $675.4 million
3. Machinery: $576.3 million
4. Electronic equipment: $507 million
5. Paper: $344.7 million
6. Medical, technical equipment: $339.2 million
7. Cereals: $233.3 million
8. Vehicles: $183.7 million
9. Iron or steel products: $169.6 million
10. Oil seed: $132 million
Top 10 Costa Rica Imports from China
China's exports to Costa Rica amounted to
$2.3 billion or 13.7% of its overall imports.
1. Electronic equipment: $439.3 million
2. Machinery: $370.7 million
3. Iron and steel: $230.1 million
4. Vehicles: $100.5 million
5. Plastics: $96.4 million
6. Furniture, lighting, signs: $87.6 million
7. Iron or steel products: $79.5 million
8. Clothing (not knit or crochet): $74.8 million
9. Footwear: $69.3 million
10. Toys, games: $63.1 million
Top 10 Costa Rica Imports from Mexico
Mexico's exports to Costa Rica amounted to
$1.2 billion or 7% of its overall imports.
1. Electronic equipment: $150.5 million
2. Vehicles: $112.6 million
3. Machinery: $90.9 million
4. Pharmaceuticals: $71.1 million
5. Plastics: $69.2 million
6. Perfumes, cosmetics: $68 million
7. Paper: $58.8 million
8. Rubber: $33 million
9. Other food preparations: $32.4 million
10. Cereal, milk preparations:$28.6 million
Top 10 Costa Rica Imports from Guatemala
Guatemala's exports to Costa Rica amounted to
$415.2 million or 2.5% of its overall imports.
1. Plastics: $55 million
2. Soaps, lubricants, candles: $40.5 million
3. Iron or steel products: $35.4 million
4. Paper: $31.9 million
5. Other chemical goods: $26.8 million
6. Cereal, milk preparations:$22.9 million
7. Rubber: $17.5 million
8. Pharmaceuticals: $17.3 million
9. Other food preparations: $17 million
10. Aluminum: $12.2 million
Top 10 Costa Rica Imports from Germany
Germany's exports to Costa Rica amounted to
$414.8 million or 2.5% of its overall imports.
1. Pharmaceuticals: $103.8 million
2. Machinery: $67.6 million
3. Electronic equipment: $46.9 million
4. Vehicles: $40.6 million
5. Medical, technical equipment: $27.8 million
6. Other chemical goods: $22.4 million
7. Plastics: $21.4 million
8. Organic chemicals: $10.1 million
9. Ships, boats: $7.8 million
10. Iron or steel products: $6 million
Top 10 Costa Rica Imports from Japan
Japan's exports to Costa Rica amounted to
$372.1 million or 2.2% of its overall imports.
1. Vehicles: $200.7 million
2. Iron and steel: $59.6 million
3. Machinery: $44.2 million
4. Electronic equipment: $21.5 million
5. Medical, technical equipment: $13.7 million
6. Rubber: $6.2 million
7. Other chemical goods: $6 million
8. Pharmaceuticals: $5.4 million
9. Iron or steel products: $2.5 million
10. Organic chemicals: $1.9 million
Top 10 Costa Rica Imports from Brazil
Brazil's exports to Costa Rica amounted to
$349.8 million or 2.1% of its overall imports.
1. Machinery: $44 million
2. Vehicles: $40.4 million
3. Pharmaceuticals: $27.4 million
4. Copper: $24.8 million
5. Iron and steel: $24 million
6. Cereals: $23.2 million
7. Medical, technical equipment: $15.1 million
8. Electronic equipment: $13.3 million
9. Felt, yarn, twine, cordage: $12.7 million
10. Plastics: $11.7 million
Top 10 Costa Rica Imports from Colombia
Colombia's exports to Costa Rica amounted to
$307.7 million or 1.9% of its overall imports.
1. Plastics: $52.4 million
2. Perfumes, cosmetics: $27.8 million
3. Pharmaceuticals: $25.3 million
4. Other chemical goods: $20 million
5. Inorganic chemicals: $15.3 million
6. Electronic equipment: $14.9 million
7. Clothing (not knit or crochet): $14.5 million
8. Knit or crochet clothing: $13.9 million
9. Paper: $13.8 million
10. Machinery: $10.4 million
Top 10 Costa Rica Imports from Hong Kong
Hong Kong's exports to Costa Rica amounted to
$290.1 million or 1.8% of its overall imports.
1. Electronic equipment: $244.8 million
2. Machinery: $14 million
3. Plastics: $3.8 million
4. Organic chemicals: $2.6 million
5. Toys, games: $2.5 million
6. Medical, technical equipment: $1.9 million
7. Knit or crochet clothing: $1.6 million
8. Man-made staple fibers: $1.6 million
9. Furniture, lighting, signs: $1.6 million
10. Clothing (not knit or crochet): $1.4 million
Top 10 Costa Rica Imports from Chile
Chile's exports to Costa Rica amounted to
$279.3 million or 1.7% of its overall imports.
1. Copper: $64.1 million
2. Wood: $57.4 million
3. Fruits, nuts: $26.6 million
4. Pharmaceuticals: $22.3 million
5. Meat: $16 million
6. Plastics: $11.4 million
7. Beverages: $10.2 million
8. Paper: $9.9 million
9. Dairy, eggs, honey: $7.4 million
10. Other food preparations: $7.2 million
Top 10 Costa Rica Imports from Spain
Spain's exports to Costa Rica amounted to
$259.7 million or 1.6% of its overall imports.
1. Pharmaceuticals: $34 million
2. Machinery: $24.3 million
3. Ceramic products: $19.1 million
4. Electronic equipment: $16.8 million
5. Iron or steel products: $12.7 million
6. Other chemical goods: $11.8 million
7. Plastics: $10.7 million
8. Perfumes, cosmetics: $9.4 million
9. Beverages: $7.7 million
10. Furniture, lighting, signs: $7.5 million
Fastest-Growing Costa Rica Imports
Research Note:
Import numbers rarely match the source exporters’ stats. Reasons for import-export statistical discrepancies include re-exports, time lags, misallocations, distinct trade reporting systems, different quantity measurements and country confidentiality rules. Also, transportation and insurance costs are sometimes added to import totals.
Data source: Trade Map, International Trade Centre, www.intracen.org/marketanalysis
