QCOSTARICA — Costa Rica’s external sales continue to grow steadily, reaching US$11.2 billion from January to July 2024, 7% more than the same period in 2023.
Challenges such as the high cost of inputs and climatic factors, as well as the decrease in demand, have not affected the sector.
The precision and medical equipment sectors report a 13% increase and the food industry a 6% increase in its international shipments.
The agricultural sector showed an increase of 5%, followed by the food industry with 6%, the electrical and electronic sector with 6%, and plastic with 7%. The livestock and fishing sectors also contributed 3%.
On the other hand, the chemical-pharmaceutical and metalworking sectors showed marginal growth of 0.1% and -0.05%, respectively. However, the rubber sector experienced a decrease of 7%.
Exports to North America and Europe grew 10%, consolidating these destinations as the main recipients of national goods, according to data from the Foreign Trade Promoter.
“The sustained growth of 7% in exports of goods during the first seven months of the year reflects the great effort and resilience of the sector, which has faced challenges in terms of input costs, climatic factors and decreased demand. This achievement is also the result of clear public policies and a strategy of diversification of products and markets,” said Manuel Tovar, Minister of Foreign Trade.