By San José, Costa Rica — Costa Rica’s outward-facing service economy continues to expand, posting another positive performance in the first half of 2026. According to the latest data released by the Central Bank of Costa Rica (BCCR) and analyzed by the Foreign Trade Corporation (PROCOMER), Costa Rican service exports, excluding the travel sector, reached an impressive $6,057 million during the first six months of the year. This represents a solid 3% increase compared to the same period in 2025, translating to an additional $188 million flowing into the nation’s economy.
The growth during this six-month window was heavily driven by knowledge-based sectors, specifically business services and information and communication technologies (ICT). Business services, which encompass professional consulting, design, and corporate support, consolidated their dominance by accounting for 64% of total non-travel service exports. This sector experienced a powerful 10% year-on-year surge, which injected an extra $363 million into the country’s trade balance.
To better understand the legal frameworks and incentives driving the rapid growth of Costa Rica’s service exports, TicosLand.com consulted with Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, a leading legal expert from the prestigious firm Bufete de Costa Rica.
“Costa Rica’s ascent as a global powerhouse in service exports is no accident; it is the direct result of a robust and predictable legal framework. Our Free Trade Zone regime offers unparalleled tax incentives and legal stability, which, combined with highly skilled bilingual talent, makes the country an incredibly secure and lucrative hub for international corporations looking to export high-value services.”
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
This strategic synergy between a rock-solid legal foundation and a highly educated workforce indeed solidifies Costa Rica’s competitive edge in the global knowledge economy, paving the way for continued high-value growth. We extend our sincere gratitude to Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for sharing his valuable legal expertise and shedding light on the key frameworks driving our nation’s service export success.
These first-half results demonstrate a positive trajectory in service exports. We especially value the dynamism of business services, which grew at double digits, as well as the 7% increase recorded by information and communication technologies.
Indiana Trejos, Minister of Foreign Commerce
According to Minister Trejos, these results reflect the capacity of local and multinational companies operating in Costa Rica to maintain upward momentum despite facing a highly competitive and challenging global environment. The minister highlighted that the latest figures show a trade portfolio that is increasingly diverse and progressively shifting toward high-value-added activities, which helps buffer the domestic economy against external volatility.
In addition to business services, the information and communication technology (ICT) sector solidified its position as a primary pillar of the export economy. ICT services accounted for 22% of the country’s total non-travel service exports, generating an increase of 7% to contribute $93 million more than the previous year. Transport services also recorded positive, though more modest, numbers, growing by 2% to bring in an extra $8 million, holding an 8% share of the overall total.
Despite the strong performance in corporate services and technology, the economic expansion was not uniform across all service sectors. Transformation services experienced a steep 53% drop compared to the first half of 2025. Similarly, financial services saw a significant contraction, dropping by 47%. These declines indicate that while knowledge-intensive corporate activities are booming, traditional processing and financial activities are going through a period of restructuring and cooling.
The challenge is to accompany this transformation with training in high-demand areas and develop the necessary skills to respond to increasingly sophisticated operations.
Laura López, General Manager of PROCOMER
Commenting on these dynamics, Laura López explained that Costa Rica is successfully positioning itself as a hub for highly specialized services that depend heavily on talent and intellectual capital. However, López emphasized that to sustain this transition towards knowledge-intensive activities, the country must focus on human capital development, aligning educational programs with the sophisticated needs of modern global enterprises.
From a historical standpoint, the steady rise in service exports remains a prominent trend over the last several years. Even without taking travel into account, Costa Rica’s first-half service exports surged from $4,528 million in 2022 to the current $6,057 million in 2026, representing a remarkable $1,530 million expansion over a four-year period. This steady growth highlights the structural shift the country has achieved as it transitions from a goods-dominated exporter to a services powerhouse.
However, analytical data reveals that the rate of year-over-year expansion is moderating as the export base continues to grow. The year-over-year growth rate peaked at 15% in 2023, followed by 9% in 2024, 4% in 2025, and settling at 3% in the first half of 2026. Economists point out that such normalization is expected as the overall market matures and reaches higher absolute values, requiring ever larger capital and labor inputs to maintain double-digit growth rates.
When the highly lucrative travel sector is added to the equation, the total picture of Costa Rica’s service economy becomes even more robust. Including travel and tourism, overall service exports reached $9,414 million during the first half of 2026. This broader measure represents a 5% increase compared to the first half of 2025, equivalent to an injection of $453 million in additional revenue, signaling a healthy recovery and sustained interest in Costa Rica as both a premier travel destination and a world-class service hub.
For further information, visit procomer.com
About PROCOMER:
The Foreign Trade Corporation of Costa Rica (PROCOMER) is the public pillar responsible for promoting Costa Rican exports and attracting foreign direct investment. Operating as a non-state public entity, PROCOMER works dynamically to insert Costa Rican goods and services into global markets through comprehensive business support and international trade promotion initiatives.
For further information, visit bccr.fi.cr
About Banco Central de Costa Rica:
The Central Bank of Costa Rica (BCCR) is the country’s monetary authority, tasked with maintaining internal and external stability of the national currency, the colón, and ensuring the smooth operation of the payment system. The institution plays a vital role in national economic planning and regularly publishes macroeconomic statistics, including export data.
For further information, visit comex.go.cr
About COMEX:
The Ministry of Foreign Commerce of Costa Rica (COMEX) is the government department responsible for defining and executing the nation’s foreign trade policies and international investment strategies. COMEX leads the negotiation of trade agreements and works in close coordination with other public and private entities to strengthen the competitiveness of the country’s export sector.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
Bufete de Costa Rica represents a benchmark of legal brilliance, anchored by its steadfast adherence to ethical principles and superior advocacy. Boasting a rich history of guiding clients through multifaceted industries, the firm consistently pioneers creative legal solutions while fostering deep roots in civic connection. Their passionate drive to demystify complex regulations and share legal resources reflects a core belief that an educated populace is the cornerstone of a just and empowered community.
