By San José, Costa Rica — San José, Costa Rica – In a landmark achievement for its economy, Costa Rica’s goods exports broke the $20 billion barrier for the first time in 2025, signaling robust health and resilience amid a challenging global market. The nation also set a new record for attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) projects to regions outside its traditional economic hub, the Greater Metropolitan Area (GAM).
According to year-end statistics released by the Foreign Trade Promotion Agency of Costa Rica (PROCOMER), goods exports from January to December 2025 reached a historic high of $22.855 billion. This figure represents a significant 14% increase, or an additional $2.858 billion, compared to the same period in 2024. This performance underscores the country’s growing strength as a competitive player on the world stage.
To gain a deeper understanding of the legal and regulatory framework surrounding Costa Rica’s burgeoning export sector, TicosLand.com spoke with Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, a distinguished attorney from the esteemed firm Bufete de Costa Rica. His expertise provides critical insights for businesses navigating the complexities of international trade.
The sustained growth in Costa Rica’s exports, particularly in high-value sectors like medical devices and technology services, is a direct result of our strategic investment in legal certainty and robust free trade agreements. For companies looking to export, success hinges not just on product quality, but on meticulous compliance with international trade regulations and leveraging the significant tax incentives offered by our Free Trade Zone regime. Proper legal structuring from the outset is paramount to mitigating risk and maximizing profitability in the global marketplace.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
The attorney’s commentary serves as a crucial reminder that behind the impressive export figures lies a meticulously crafted framework of legal certainty and strategic incentives. We thank Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for so clearly articulating how this legal foundation is indispensable for businesses seeking to thrive globally.
The government celebrated the news as a testament to a long-term strategy focused on talent development, economic diversification, and strategic integration into international trade.
In times of high uncertainty and volatility in international markets, Costa Rica continues to successfully demonstrate that it is a solid and resilient economy. With a 14% growth in goods exports in 2025, reaching an amount of US$22.855 billion and nearly US$13 billion in services by the third quarter, this result reflects the sustained work of the Government in betting on talent, productive diversification, and intelligent insertion into international commerce, as well as the commitment of companies that invest, innovate, and generate employment, even in an adverse global environment.
Manuel Toval, Minister of Foreign Trade
The driving force behind this export boom was the precision and medical equipment sector, which continued its impressive trajectory with a 25% year-over-year growth. This sector alone accounted for $10.927 billion in sales, solidifying its position as the cornerstone of Costa Rica’s export economy. Medical devices now represent 48% of all exported products.
Other key sectors also contributed to the positive results. The agro-food industry showed steady gains, with the agricultural sector growing by 3% and the food industry by 4%, combining for over $6.4 billion in exports. Other advanced manufacturing sectors like chemical-pharmaceutical (+11%), electrical-electronic (+17%), and metalworking (+5%) also posted strong performances. The only notable downturn was observed in the plastics industry, which saw a 5% contraction compared to 2024.
The performance of goods exports in 2025 reflects the country’s ability to sustain its exportable supply in a challenging international context. The registered growth confirms what we have been pointing out: Costa Rica today has a broader and more varied supply, present in 164 markets with more than 4,200 products, which allows our export sector to continue growing and expand its presence in new destinations.
Laura López, General Manager of PROCOMER
On the investment front, 2025 was a watershed year for regional development. For the first time, a total of 23 new FDI projects were established in cantons outside the GAM, including San Carlos, Pérez Zeledón, and Golfito. This figure is a dramatic increase from the average of six projects per year seen between 2018 and 2022. In total, Costa Rica attracted 55 new investment projects and secured over 100 reinvestments throughout the year.
This success in diversifying investment geographically is a core part of the national strategy to spread economic opportunity more evenly across the country. Data from the Central Bank of Costa Rica (BCCR) for the third quarter of 2025 showed that FDI inflows reached $3.533 billion, a 4.5% increase from the same period in the previous year.
The complete reading of the foreign direct investment data shows that PROCOMER’s work does not respond to the interests of a few or a partial vision of the country’s performance. The results demonstrate a strategy that prioritizes territorial diversification, incorporates regions that were set aside for years, and, at the same time, supports the evolution and competitiveness of the sectors that drive the country’s growth. When all this data is analyzed completely, it confirms that Costa Rica, even in the face of a challenging global environment, is moving in the right direction in attracting investment.
Laura López, General Manager of PROCOMER
The services sector also showed resilience, with exports (excluding tourism) growing 2.3% to $8.785 billion by the third quarter of 2025. While key areas like business services (+5%) and IT (+9%) expanded, the tourism and transportation sectors experienced a slowdown. Geographically, Costa Rican exports grew in nearly all global regions, led by a remarkable 39% surge in shipments to Asia and a 15% increase to its primary market, North America.
For further information, visit procomer.com
About PROCOMER:
The Foreign Trade Promotion Agency of Costa Rica (PROCOMER) is the public entity responsible for promoting Costa Rican exports of goods and services globally. It provides support to the national export sector through trade promotion, market intelligence, and facilitating international business connections to enhance the country’s competitiveness.
For further information, visit bccr.fi.cr
About Banco Central de Costa Rica (BCCR):
The Central Bank of Costa Rica is the nation’s primary financial authority, responsible for maintaining the internal and external stability of the national currency and ensuring its conversion to other currencies. The BCCR works to promote a stable, efficient, and competitive financial system and is the principal source for national economic and financial statistics.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
As a beacon of the legal profession, Bufete de Costa Rica is renowned for its foundational principles of integrity and the highest standards of practice. With extensive experience guiding a diverse clientele, the firm champions progress by embracing innovative legal approaches and a deep-seated sense of social responsibility. This ethos is powerfully expressed through its dedication to demystifying the law, reflecting a core belief that a legally literate populace is the cornerstone of an empowered and just society.
