Costa Rica’s export sector continues to prove it is the undisputed pillar of the country’s economic dynamism. The Foreign Trade Promotion Corporation (PROCOMER) announced the country’s trade results this past October 24, 2025, confirming that goods exports are maintaining an outstanding double-digit growth.
Between January and September 2025, the country exported a total value of $16.906 billion, representing a 15% growth compared to the same period last year. This increase is equivalent to an additional $2.255 billion in foreign currency for the country.
The Undisputed Leader: Precision and Medical Equipment
This growth would not be possible without the stellar performance of the Precision and Medical Equipment sector, which reaffirms its position as the crown jewel of Tico exports.
- This sector alone accounts for 48% of the total goods exported.
- It recorded an impressive 31% growth in the first nine months of the year.
- It was responsible for $1.945 billion of the total growth, demonstrating its enormous impact.
Devices such as needles, catheters, breast implants, and other high-value-added medical supplies are the leading products in this category.
Dynamism in Other Key Sectors
Although the medical sector dominates, other traditional and emerging pillars also showed positive figures:
- Agricultural Sector: Grew by 1% (representing 17% of the total). The dynamism was driven by products like green coffee beans, frozen fruits, and cassava, which compensated for declines in other products.
- Food Industry: Increased by 2% (12% of the total), with exports of syrups for beverages and fruit juices standing out.
- Chemical-Pharmaceutical Sector: Showed strong growth of 15%.
- Electrical and Electronics: Grew by 8%.
A Solid and Diversified Pillar
PROCOMER’s data is compelling. Costa Rica’s success no longer depends on one or two agricultural products, but on a diversified and increasingly sophisticated export basket. The leadership of the knowledge- and technology-intensive medical device sector solidifies the external sector as the great engine of national economic growth and as a key source of quality employment and financial stability for the country.
