Maize bran, sharps and residues market in Costa Rica

Earlier Report Observations

The market volume for maize bran and residues in Costa Rica fell sharply from 3 270 tons in 2018 to 1 877 tons in 2019, before beginning a steady recovery that reached 2 321 tons by 2023. The early part of this period saw regulatory foundations being laid, including Executive Decree No. 37567-S-MINAET-H which permitted the export of valuable residues and the ongoing Action Plan for Comprehensive Solid Waste Management. These frameworks supported the broader infrastructure for managing agricultural by-products.

The market's recovery was reinforced by significant policy initiatives launched in 2023, namely the National Policy for Comprehensive Waste Management 2023-2033 and its accompanying National Plan. These measures specifically aimed to attract investment for valorizing agro-industrial waste. A concrete example was a project promoted by the Ministry of Environment and Energy and IICA to convert such waste, including maize residues, into clean electricity, creating a new demand channel for these materials.

Further developments in 2024 included a sanitary agreement with Brazil to facilitate exports of agricultural by-products, potentially opening new trade avenues. Within the domestic market, the use of maize by-products like DDGS in animal feed, particularly for equines, gained traction, highlighting the diversification of applications for these residues.

Production maize bran, sharps and residues in Costa Rica

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of maize bran, sharps and residues, 2017-2020

World map of production of maize bran, sharps and residues, 2017-2020

Costa Rica's production of maize bran, sharps, and residues rebounded after a two-year decline. In 2020, output reached 2,246 tonnes, marking a 19.7% increase from the previous year. However, over the broader period from 2017 to 2020, production fell by 34.8%, averaging an annual decline of 13.3%. The lowest point occurred in 2019, with only 1,877 tonnes produced, and that year also saw the steepest drop of 42.4%.

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

Exports maize bran, sharps and residues from Costa Rica

Market analysis indicates that Costa Rica did not export any maize bran, sharps, and residues between 2017 and 2020.

Imports maize bran, sharps and residues to Costa Rica

Imports in kind, kg

Imports of maize bran, sharps, and residues into Costa Rica continued to fall for the second year in a row. In 2019, imports dropped to just 1 kilogram, a 100.0% decrease from the year before. From 2017 to 2019, imports plummeted by 100%, with an average annual decline of 95.3%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Costa Rica in kind, 2017-2020, kg

From 2017 to 2020, nearly all imports of maize bran, sharps, and residues to Costa Rica came from the United States, which accounted for 100.0% of total imports in volume.

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, $ US

The value of maize bran, sharps, and residues imports into Costa Rica declined for the second consecutive year. In 2019, imports were valued at 33 US dollars, reflecting a sharp reduction of 99.7% compared to the previous year. Over the 2017-2019 period, import value decreased by 99.7%, with a compound annual growth rate of -85.1%.

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

Throughout 2017 to 2020, the United States dominated the geographic structure of Costa Rica's imports of maize bran, sharps, and residues in value terms, holding a 99.8% share of total flows.

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

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