Market research

Milk and cream market in Costa Rica

Release date: Mar 27, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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Earlier Report Observations

The milk and cream market in Costa Rica grew from 1 285 thousand tonnes in 2018 to 1 339 thousand tonnes by 2020. The entry of new international players like Sigma Alimentos and Sodiaal in 2018 added competition and likely contributed to initial expansion. However, growth slowed in 2019 as producers faced rising costs for feed ingredients such as corn and soybeans. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 introduced supply chain disruptions, but sustained consumer demand for fresh, minimally processed products helped the market continue its gradual rise.

In 2021, further liberalization of imports from the United States and the formal market entry of Sodiaal supported volume growth to 1 358 thousand tonnes. By 2023, the market jumped sharply to 1 515 thousand tonnes, partly driven by increasing consumer preference for fresh, lightly processed dairy items and the consolidation of new entrants like Sodiaal.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
  2. 4.1.2. In value
    1. 4.1.2.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.2.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.2.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.2.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Costa Rica
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Costa Rica in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  2. 5.1.2. Annual dynamics of production in Costa Rica in value, 2018-2023, $ US
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  2. 5.2.2. Dynamics of production structure by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023
  3. 5.2.3. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  4. 5.2.4. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
  5. 5.2.5. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2023
6. Imports
1. 6.1. Imports (Direct Data)
  1. 6.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Costa Rica in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Costa Rica by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Costa Rica in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Costa Rica by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Costa Rica, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Costa Rica by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 6.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Costa Rica in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Costa Rica by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Costa Rica in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Costa Rica by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Costa Rica, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Costa Rica by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
7. Exports
1. 7.1. Exports (Direct Data)
  1. 7.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Costa Rica in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Costa Rica by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Costa Rica in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Costa Rica by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Costa Rica, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Costa Rica by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 7.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Costa Rica in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Costa Rica by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Costa Rica in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Costa Rica by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Costa Rica, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Costa Rica by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, K $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, K $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
1. 9.1. Direct Data
  1. 9.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 9.2. Mirror Data
  1. 9.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production milk and cream in Costa Rica

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of milk and cream, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of milk and cream, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

In 2020, Costa Rica produced 1 381 thousand tonnes of milk and cream, remaining broadly stable compared to the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, production increased by 5.4%, which equates to an annualized growth rate of 1.8%. The largest annual increase occurred in 2019, at 3.6%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	1.7%	3.6%	0.0%	1.8%

Source: SHEV.io

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Costa Rica's milk and cream production increased for the second consecutive year in 2020, with output valued at 1 196 million US dollars, marking a 3.2% gain compared to 2019. The lowest value was recorded in 2018 at 1 134 million US dollars, which also saw the largest decline of 5.4%.

Annual dynamics of production in Costa Rica in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(5.4%)	2.2%	3.2%	(0.1%)

Source: SHEV.io

Exports milk and cream from Costa Rica

Exports in kind, t

After two years of growth, Costa Rica's milk and cream export volumes declined in 2020, totaling 50 358 tonnes, a modest decrease of 5.6% from 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, exports increased by 2.2%, with a compound annual growth rate of 0.7%. The highest volume was recorded in 2019 at 53 322 tonnes, which also experienced the largest annual increase of 4.5%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	3.5%	4.5%	(5.6%)	0.7%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, three main markets—Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, and El Salvador—collectively absorbed 78.2% of Costa Rica's total milk and cream exports in volume terms.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

In 2020, Costa Rica exported 43 595 thousand US dollars worth of milk and cream, a 2.5% decrease year-on-year. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports decreased by 3.3%, with a compound annual decline rate of 1.1%. The lowest value was recorded in 2018 at 43 371 thousand US dollars, which saw the largest decline of 3.8%, while the largest increase occurred in 2019 at 3.1%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(3.8%)	3.1%	(2.5%)	(1.1%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Guatemala (34.9% of exports in value terms), the Dominican Republic (24.4%), and El Salvador (17.6%) consistently held leading positions in Costa Rica's export structure, jointly accounting for 76.8% of total flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports milk and cream to Costa Rica

Imports in kind, t

After two years of decline, Costa Rica's milk and cream import volumes increased in 2020, totaling 3 139 tonnes, up by 41.3% year-on-year. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports decreased by 35.9%, with a compound annual decline rate of 13.8%. The lowest volume was recorded in 2019 at 2 221 tonnes, while the largest annual decline occurred in 2018 at 44.0%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(44.0%)	(18.9%)	41.3%	(13.8%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Nicaragua dominated Costa Rica's milk and cream imports in volume terms, accounting for 96.6% of total flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

After two years of decrease, Costa Rica's milk and cream imports rose in 2020, reaching 2 101 thousand US dollars, a 30.7% increase from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports decreased by 42.1%, with a compound annual decline rate of 16.6%. The lowest value was recorded in 2019 at 1 608 thousand US dollars, which also saw the largest annual decline of 35.3%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(31.5%)	(35.3%)	30.7%	(16.6%)

Source: SHEV.io

Throughout 2017 to 2020, Nicaragua and Panama remained the primary suppliers of milk and cream to Costa Rica, together accounting for 99.5% of total imports in value terms.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io