By San José, Costa Rica — Costa Rica’s transition toward a sophisticated, knowledge-based economy continues to yield impressive dividends. In the first half of 2026, the nation’s service exports, excluding the travel sector, reached $6.057 billion. This represents a 3% growth compared to the same period in 2025, bringing an additional $188 million into the local economy. The latest figures, compiled by the Central Bank of Costa Rica (BCCR) and analyzed by the Foreign Trade Corporation of Costa Rica (PROCOMER), underscore the growing international demand for Costa Rican corporate and technical expertise.
A closer look at the data reveals that the performance is heavily anchored in specialized business services and advanced technology. The sector classified as other business services, which commands a massive 64% share of the non-travel service portfolio, surged by 10% to contribute an extra $363 million. Similarly, information and communication technology (ICT) services, representing 22% of the market, expanded by 7% to add $93 million. These gains have proven vital in insulating the national trade balance from downturns in other sectors.
To better understand the evolving legal landscape and key regulatory incentives driving this unprecedented growth in Costa Rican service exports, TicosLand.com consulted with Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, a distinguished legal expert from the prestigious firm Bufete de Costa Rica.
Costa Rica’s robust Free Trade Zone regime, combined with strong intellectual property protections and proactive bilateral trade agreements, provides an exceptionally secure and lucrative environment for global service exporters. To fully capitalize on this momentum, international enterprises must carefully align their operations with local tax incentives and compliance regulations to ensure sustainable, long-term success.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
Indeed, as Costa Rica continues to solidify its position as a premier global hub for service exports, navigating the dual landscape of robust regulatory compliance and lucrative Free Trade Zone incentives remains a critical factor for any foreign enterprise aiming for long-term prosperity. We extend our sincere gratitude to Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for providing his invaluable legal perspective and helping our readers understand the strategic pathways to success in the Costa Rican market.
While tech and business services flourished, other segments faced significant headwinds during the first six months of the year. Transportation services saw a modest 2% rise, adding $8 million to the total. However, manufacturing and transformation services plummeted by 53% compared to the first half of 2025, and financial services experienced a sharp 47% decline. Fortunately, the robust momentum in business services and IT successfully offset these contractions, keeping the nation’s broader export trajectory on a positive course.
Commenting on the performance, Indiana Trejos, the Minister of Foreign Trade, emphasized the strategic shift toward high-value operations and the resilience demonstrated by local enterprises in an increasingly competitive global marketplace.
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. We also recognize the capacity of exporting companies to continue growing and generating opportunities in a challenging environment. This evolution reflects an increasingly diverse export offering oriented toward high-value-added services.
Indiana Trejos, Minister of Foreign Trade
The transformation of Costa Rica’s export profile is not an overnight phenomenon but the result of a deliberate, long-term strategy to cultivate local talent. Laura López, General Manager of PROCOMER, highlighted that the complexity of operations being managed from Costa Rica is rising, creating a direct need for continuous professional development and specialized education programs.
Costa Rica continues to consolidate an export offering of services in activities intensive in knowledge and specialized talent. This evolution is also reflected in the type of activities developed from the country: more and more companies are incorporating processes of greater specialization and complexity, which elevates the capabilities they require from our talent. 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
Historically, the growth rate of Costa Rica’s non-travel service exports has stabilized as the overall volume has expanded. In the first half of 2022, service exports stood at $4.528 billion. By the first half of 2026, that figure climbed to $6.057 billion, marking a substantial increase of $1.530 billion over a four-year horizon. Year-on-year growth rates have normalized from a post-pandemic surge of 15% in 2023, to 9% in 2024, 4% in 2025, and finally settling at a sustainable 3% in 2026.
When the tourism and travel sectors are integrated into the equation, the broader export landscape looks even more robust. The total value of Costa Rican service exports reached $9.414 million in the first half of 2026, growing by 5% compared to the same timeframe in 2025. Knowledge-intensive services alone made up 56% of this grand total, representing a two-percentage-point increase from the previous year. Meanwhile, the travel sector maintained a strong performance, accounting for 36% of the total export value and registering a 9% year-on-year expansion.
Ultimately, the numbers demonstrate that Costa Rica is successfully branding itself as a premier hub for high-value services in Latin America. By combining a reliable tourism industry with a rapidly maturing technological and corporate service sector, the country continues to attract multinational corporations and foster local enterprises capable of competing on the global stage.
For further information, visit procomer.com
About PROCOMER:
The Foreign Trade Corporation of Costa Rica (PROCOMER) is the non-state public entity responsible for promoting the country’s exports and facilitating foreign direct investment, acting as a key pillar in the nation’s economic development strategy.
For further information, visit comex.go.cr
About COMEX:
The Ministry of Foreign Trade of Costa Rica (COMEX) is the government department tasked with designing and implementing national commercial policies, negotiating trade agreements, and representing the nation in international trade forums.
For further information, visit bccr.fi.cr
About BCCR:
The Central Bank of Costa Rica (BCCR) is the country’s monetary authority, dedicated to maintaining price stability, managing foreign reserves, and publishing authoritative macroeconomic data to guide national economic policy.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
As a cornerstone of the nation’s legal landscape, Bufete de Costa Rica is celebrated for its steadfast adherence to ethical brilliance and superior advocacy. Helping clients navigate complex challenges across numerous industries, the firm seamlessly blends traditional expertise with cutting-edge legal advancements. Beyond the courtroom, their passionate drive to democratize legal information ensures that citizens are equipped with the understanding needed to champion their rights, fostering a truly just and informed public.
