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Export Market

Costa Rica

ISO: CR / CRI

Country Profile

Capital San José
Population 5.3M
GDP $95.4B (2024)
GDP per Capita $18,587
Income Level High Income
Currency Costa Rican colón (CRC ₡)
Language Spanish
Timezone UTC-06:00
Region North America · Central America

Trade Partners

Costa Rica Exports To

  • USA 40.0%
  • Netherlands 6.0%
  • China 5.0%
  • Guatemala 4.0%
  • Belgium 3.0%

Key exports: medical instruments, integrated circuits, orthopedic appliances, bananas, tropical fruits (2023)

Costa Rica Imports From

  • USA 38.0%
  • China 15.0%
  • Mexico 6.0%
  • Brazil 3.0%
  • Guatemala 3.0%

Key imports: refined petroleum, plastic products, cars, medical instruments, broadcasting equipment (2023)

Economic Overview

trade-based upper middle-income economy; green economy leader, having reversed deforestation; investing in blue economy infrastructure; declining poverty until hard impacts of COVID-19; lingering inequality and growing government debts have prompted a liquidity crisis

Government: presidential republic

UK Trade Status

FTA in Force

The UK has a free trade agreement with Costa Rica, providing preferential market access for UK exporters.

Trade Barriers

2 active barriers affecting UK exporters

Lack of comprehensive cost-benefit evaluation for medical products in Costa Rica disadvantages UK exporters

Government purchases of medicines and medical products do not follow a comprehensive cost-benefit evaluation of the product. This makes it difficult for UK companies looking to introduce new and innovative technologies and treatments in the market.

Sectors: Healthcare services, Medical devices and equipment

Reported: 23 Mar 2020

Unclear and inaccessible procurement process in Costa Rica

Costa Rica's procurement legislation provides for direct purchasing whenever there is matter of urgency, but the criteria that should be followed is unclear. Insufficient access to tender specifications and documents is also an issue for UK companies.

Reported: 13 Feb 2020

Geographic Region

Latin America and Caribbean

Export Guidance

Relevant guidance for exporting to Costa Rica.

Start Your Export Journey

Export to the EU after Brexit Start exporting from the UK Manage your export compliance

Also in This Region

🇦🇷 Argentina 🇧🇸 Bahamas FTA 🇧🇧 Barbados FTA 🇧🇿 Belize FTA 🇧🇴 Bolivia 🇧🇷 Brazil 🇨🇱 Chile FTA 🇨🇴 Colombia FTA

Official Resources

Government export support for Costa Rica.

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