What is the value of US trade with Costa Rica?
Updated Apr. 29, 2026Refreshed annually
$19.9 billion in imports and $13.1 billion in exports in 2025. That means that the US imported $6.86 billion more from Costa Rica than we exported to it. Benefits of trade can include higher wages and job growth, a wider variety of products available at lower prices, increased productivity, and more efficient resource allocation.
$19.9B
Value of imports from Costa Rica to the US (2025)
$13.1B
Value of exports from the US to Costa Rica (2025)
Exports are goods and services the US sells to other countries. Imports are goods and services the US buys from other countries. Combining the value of imports and exports shows us how much trade happens between the US and other countries.
The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) provides data for 71 of the US' trading partners (though not necessarily the top 71 trading partners). The partners they track accounted for 94.2% of total trade with the US in 2025.
How high is Costa Rica ranked as a US trade partner?
BEA data ranks Costa Rica as the US’ 37th top trading partner: In 2025, the US traded $33 billion in goods and services with Costa Rica. Countries with similar trade values include Dominican Republic ($34.5B) and Argentina ($30B).
In 2025, the US traded $33 billion in goods and services with Costa Rica.
Total trade value (imports + exports) with the US (2025), by select countries
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Another way to look at international trade is through trade balance. A nation that imports more than it exports, has a trade deficit. One that exports more than it imports has a trade surplus. Neither is inherently good or bad; trade balance is just a metric that shows the relationship between imports and exports.
What is the trade balance with Costa Rica?
The US has had a trade deficit with Costa Rica every year from 2019 through 2025. The 2025 deficit was $6.86 billion, an increase from 2024's deficit of $5.18 billion.
The trade deficit with Costa Rica increased to $6.86B in 2025.
Annual trade balance with Costa Rica, not adjusted for inflation
What does the US import from Costa Rica?
In 2025, 70.5% of imports from Costa Rica to the US were goods. The largest category was capital goods (tools used for the production process, like machinery and equipment), accounting for $8.65 billion. The top three imports were capital goods, food, feeds, and beverages, and consumer goods (goods and services purchased by individuals for personal use, like clothing and cellphones). These categories accounted for $12.3 billion of total imports.
The other 29.5% were services, with travel being the largest service category. Travel (money leaving the US by Americans spending on things like lodging, meals, transportation, and entertainment abroad) accounted for $2.84 billion.
Capital goods made up 43.5% of US imports from Costa Rica in 2025.
US imports from Costa Rica by category (2025)
What does the US export to Costa Rica?
In 2025, more US exports to Costa Rica were goods — 78.4%. The largest export was industrial supplies and materials (items used up in the production process, like oil, chemicals, and plastic), which accounted for a value of $4.24 billion. The top three exports were industrial supplies and materials, capital goods, and food, feeds, and beverages. These categories accounted for $8.34 billion of exports to Costa Rica.
The other 21.6% were services, with travel being the largest service category. Travel (money entering the US from foreign visitors on expenses like lodging, meals, transportation, and entertainment) accounted for $1.1 billion.
Industrial supplies and materials made up 32.5% of US exports to Costa Rica in 2025.
US exports to Costa Rica by category (2025)
Value of imports and exports, by category (2025)
| 1. | Capital goods | $8.65 billion |
| 2. | Travel | $2.84 billion |
| 3. | Food, feeds, and beverages | $2.1 billion |
| 4. | Consumer goods | $1.55 billion |
| 5. | Business services | $1.48 billion |
| 6. | Other merchandise | $905 million |
| 7. | Transport | $682 million |
| 8. | Industrial supplies and materials | $491 million |
| 9. | Automotive vehicles and parts | $221 million |
| 10. | Nonmonetary gold | $122 million |
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Methodology
USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.
The analysis was generated with the help of AI and reviewed by USAFacts for accuracy.
Page sources
USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.
