Leguminous vegetables market in Costa Rica

Earlier Report Observations

The market volume for fresh leguminous vegetables in Costa Rica showed considerable variability between 2018 and 2023. Starting at 389 t in 2018, consumption jumped to 462 t the following year, marking a significant expansion. The market then largely held this higher level through 2020 before contracting sharply to 387 t in 2021. A strong rebound followed in 2022, bringing volume back to 458 t, and a slight increase to 467 t was recorded in 2023.

The period was characterized by two major swings. The first was the 19% surge in 2019, which established a new baseline for the market. After a stable 2020, the second swing was a 15% drop in 2021. The market demonstrated resilience by recovering almost entirely from this decline over the next two years, ending the period nearly 20% above its 2018 starting point.

For 2024, industry analysis highlights several relevant trends. These include a growing consumer preference for plant-based foods and minimally processed, fresh legumes, driven by health and sustainability concerns. The development of convenient refrigerated formats and commercial alliances for national distribution are also noted as factors shaping the current market environment.

Production leguminous vegetables in Costa Rica

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of leguminous vegetables, 2017-2020

World map of production of leguminous vegetables, 2017-2020

In 2020, Costa Rica produced 472.0 t of leguminous vegetables, marking a 4.2% increase compared to the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production grew by 5.3%, which translates to an average annual growth rate of 1.7%. The most significant decline occurred in 2019, with a drop of 3.5%, while the largest increase was recorded in 2018 at 4.7%.

Annual dynamics of production in Costa Rica in kind, 2017-2020, t

Exports leguminous vegetables from Costa Rica

Exports in kind, t

The market showed an unstable trend throughout the analyzed period. Exports reached their lowest point in 2019 and peaked in 2017, with a 76-fold difference between these years. In 2020, Costa Rica exported 20.8 t of leguminous vegetables, representing a substantial increase of 335.8% year-over-year. The minimum volume was recorded in 2019 at 4.8 t, which also saw the largest decline of 95.5%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Costa Rica in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, Guatemala remained the primary buyer of leguminous vegetables from Costa Rica, accounting for 72.1% of total exports in volume. The remaining exports were distributed among many other countries.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Costa Rica in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, K $ US

Market behavior was characterized by volatility during these years. Export values fluctuated significantly, with a 66-fold difference between the high in 2017 and the low in 2019. In 2020, the value of leguminous vegetables exported from Costa Rica was recorded at 12.6 K $ US, up by 186.4% compared to the previous year. The minimum value occurred in 2019 at 4.4 K $ US, which also experienced the largest decline of 97.5%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Costa Rica in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Between 2017 and 2020, Guatemala and the United States consistently represented 94.9% of total exports in value terms, indicating a high level of market concentration. The remaining exports were spread across a long tail of smaller markets.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Costa Rica in value, 2017-2020

Imports leguminous vegetables to Costa Rica

Imports in kind, t

Leguminous vegetable imports into Costa Rica declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, imports reached 5.5 t, reflecting a sharp decrease of 60.5% compared to the previous year. From 2017 to 2020, imports fell by 79.8%, equating to an average annual decline rate of 41.3%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Costa Rica in kind, 2017-2020, t

During the period from 2017 to 2020, Guatemala remained the main source for imports in volume, holding a 72.5% share of total flows. The rest of the imports were fragmented across numerous other destinations.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Costa Rica in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, K $ US

Costa Rica's leguminous vegetable imports continued to decline for the third year in a row. In 2020, the country imported a total of 16.9 K $ US worth of leguminous vegetables, down by 63.0% from 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, imports decreased by 76.3%, which corresponds to an average annual decline rate of 38.1%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Costa Rica in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

From 2017 to 2020, Guatemala accounted for 85.4% of total imports in value terms for leguminous vegetables into Costa Rica. The remaining imports were scattered across multiple smaller trading partners.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Costa Rica in value, 2017-2020