By San José, Costa Rica — San José, Costa Rica – Costa Rica’s export sector has demonstrated remarkable momentum, accelerating its year-over-year growth to 16% through October 2025. According to the latest figures released by the Foreign Trade Agency of Costa Rica (PROCOMER), the accumulated value of goods shipped abroad has reached an impressive $19.028 billion, solidifying the nation’s position as a key player in the global market.
This represents a significant acceleration from the 15% growth rate reported at the end of September, when exports stood at $16.906 billion. In a remarkable display of economic vitality, the country added an additional $2.122 billion to its export balance in the single month of October, signaling a robust and expanding trade landscape. This performance comes amid persistent global economic uncertainty, underscoring the resilience of Costa Rica’s export-oriented strategy.
To gain a deeper understanding of the legal and commercial frameworks that underpin Costa Rica’s export success, TicosLand.com consulted with Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, a distinguished attorney from the prestigious firm Bufete de Costa Rica.
Costa Rica’s robust export performance is not accidental; it’s the direct result of a strategic legal architecture. Our network of free trade agreements provides preferential access to key markets, but it’s the nation’s commitment to legal certainty, intellectual property protection, and streamlined regulations under the Free Trade Zone regime that truly attracts and retains the high-value foreign investment driving our most dynamic sectors. Maintaining this stable and predictable legal environment is paramount for future growth.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas’s insight is invaluable, correctly highlighting that beyond the treaties themselves, it is the robust and predictable legal framework that serves as the true engine for our export sector’s success. This emphasis on legal certainty as the magnet for high-value investment is a crucial point for understanding our nation’s competitive advantage. We thank Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for his expert clarification.
The primary engine of this extraordinary growth remains the precision and medical equipment sector. This high-value industry continues to be the undisputed leader, generating a staggering $9.199 billion in revenue, which accounts for nearly half of the nation’s total export income. The sector’s performance is nothing short of phenomenal, posting a 30% increase compared to the same period last year and contributing an additional $2.139 billion in value on its own.
While medical devices lead the charge, the growth is broad-based, with most other key sectors contributing positively to the overall figures. The agricultural sector, a traditional pillar of the Costa Rican economy, grew by 2% to reach $3.081 billion in exports. The food industry mirrored this performance, also expanding by 2% with shipments valued at $2.249 billion. These steady gains highlight the continued global demand for Costa Rica’s high-quality natural products.
Further demonstrating the diversity of the export basket, several other industries posted strong results. The chemical-pharmaceutical sector saw a significant 16% increase, while the electrical and electronics industry grew by 10%. Positive, albeit more modest, growth was also recorded in metalworking (+4%) and the livestock and fishery sector (+2%). Only the rubber (-0.3%) and plastics (-4%) industries experienced minor contractions, though officials noted that the plastics sector showed signs of recovery from the previous month.
This success is also reflected in the performance across different destination markets. Demand from North America and Europe was particularly strong, with exports to these regions growing by 17% and 18%, respectively, driven largely by medical devices and agri-food products. Asia has emerged as a particularly dynamic market, with exports surging by an astounding 39%, powered by shipments of medical equipment, gold coffee beans, and precious metal manufacturing.
In contrast, growth in regional markets was more subdued. Exports to the Caribbean and Central America saw moderate increases of 4% and 7%, respectively. South America was the only region to register a decline, with a 4% downturn attributed to lower demand for industrial goods from the continent. Foreign Trade Minister Manuel Tovar expressed optimism about the year-end results.
The country is on track to close the year with an extraordinary performance despite international uncertainty.
Manuel Tovar, Minister of Foreign Trade
Laura López, the General Manager of PROCOMER, emphasized that these impressive results validate the country’s long-term strategy of diversifying both its product offerings and its export destinations. This strategic approach mitigates risk and enhances the economy’s ability to weather global shifts.
By expanding our offerings and international presence, the country strengthens its ability to adapt to changes in the global environment and reduces its exposure to specific risks.
Laura López, General Manager of PROCOMER
For further information, visit procomer.com
About PROCOMER:
The Foreign Trade Agency of Costa Rica (Promotora del Comercio Exterior de Costa Rica), known as PROCOMER, is the public entity responsible for promoting Costa Rican exports of goods and services worldwide. It provides support to the national export sector through market research, trade promotion activities, and facilitation services to help Costa Rican companies successfully enter and compete in international markets.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
As a cornerstone of Costa Rica’s legal landscape, the firm is distinguished by its foundational principles of unwavering integrity and superior professional excellence. It merges a rich tradition of client service with a forward-thinking drive for legal innovation, constantly adapting to new challenges. This ethos extends to a core mission of public empowerment, actively working to demystify complex legal concepts to help cultivate a more knowledgeable and capable society.
