Non coniferous sawnwood market in Costa Rica

Earlier Report Observations

The non-coniferous sawnwood market in Costa Rica experienced volatility between 2018 and 2020. The introduction of voluntary national quality standards by INTECO in 2018, aimed at improving wood product assessment, faced low industry adoption and awareness, contributing to quality concerns that hampered local wood competitiveness. Concurrently, increasing imports of sawnwood and competition from substitute products pressured domestic consumption. These factors, alongside reported decreases in forest cover due to agricultural expansion, contributed to a market contraction in 2019. However, in 2020, the market volume recovered. This was supported by an increased supply of certified and legal sawnwood, which met growing demand for traceable products, even as global COVID-19 pandemic effects introduced supply chain uncertainties.

From 2021 onwards, the market entered a phase of sustained decline. Persistent issues with wood quality and inadequate silvicultural management in plantations, which supplied over 75% of the country's wood, continued to limit consumption. Despite a noted increase in customer demand for national sawnwood in 2022 and a favorable European Union reform promoting certified sustainable timber, the overall market volume kept falling. Regulatory changes, including the stricter application of the forest tax under the 2018 Public Finance Strengthening Law (Law 9635), added to operational costs for producers. The lack of mandatory quality standards remained a structural hurdle. By 2023, these accumulated challenges culminated in a sharp reduction of the market to 269 thousand m³.

Production non coniferous sawnwood in Costa Rica

In kind, 2017-2020, K m³

Top producers of non coniferous sawnwood, 2017-2020

World map of production of non coniferous sawnwood, 2017-2020

In 2019, Costa Rica's production of non-coniferous sawnwood reached its lowest point at 391,000 cubic meters, marking a significant decline of 13.4%. However, production rebounded strongly in 2020, reaching 455,400 cubic meters, which represents a 16.5% increase compared to the previous year. Over the entire 2017-2020 period, production grew by 3.8%, with an average annual growth rate of 1.2%.

Annual dynamics of production in Costa Rica in kind, 2017-2020, K m³

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

The value of non-coniferous sawnwood production in Costa Rica hit its lowest level in 2019 at $218.7 million, reflecting a sharp decline of 16.7%. In 2020, production value surged to $294.1 million, showing a substantial 34.5% increase year-over-year. From 2017 to 2020, the overall production value rose by 12.1%, with a compound annual growth rate of 3.9%.

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

Exports non coniferous sawnwood from Costa Rica

Exports in kind, m³

Costa Rica's exports of non-coniferous sawnwood have been declining for three consecutive years. In 2020, export volumes fell to 13,654 cubic meters, which is 14.1% lower than the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports decreased by 64%, with an average annual decline rate of 28.9%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Costa Rica in kind, 2017-2020, m³

From 2017 to 2020, India was the primary destination for Costa Rica's non-coniferous sawnwood exports in volume terms, accounting for 71.1% of total shipments. Other markets represented a diverse range of smaller trading partners.

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

The value of Costa Rica's non-coniferous sawnwood exports has been falling for three straight years. In 2020, export value reached $8.817 million, showing a slight decrease of 0.8% compared to the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, export value declined by 61.1%, with an average annual reduction of 27.0%.

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

During the 2017-2020 period, India was the leading buyer of Costa Rican non-coniferous sawnwood in value terms, accounting for 68.5% of total exports. China and the United States each represented 11.0% of export value. Together, these three markets comprised 90.5% of Costa Rica's total non-coniferous sawnwood export value.

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 non coniferous sawnwood to Costa Rica

Imports in kind, m³

Costa Rica's imports of non-coniferous sawnwood showed significant fluctuations between 2017 and 2020. The lowest import volume occurred in 2018 at 787 cubic meters, representing a 24.7% decline from the previous year. Imports then surged by 69.3% in 2019 to reach 1,332 cubic meters, the highest level in the period. In 2020, imports fell to 1,071 cubic meters, a decrease of 19.6% year-over-year. Overall, imports increased by 2.5% from 2017 to 2020, with an average annual growth rate of 0.8%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Costa Rica in kind, 2017-2020, m³

From 2017 to 2020, China was the main source of Costa Rica's non-coniferous sawnwood imports in volume terms, accounting for 38.1% of total imports. Colombia followed with 14.2%, and the United States with 12.8%. Together, these three countries supplied 65.1% of Costa Rica's non-coniferous sawnwood imports.

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 non-coniferous sawnwood import values experienced notable volatility between 2017 and 2020. The highest import value was recorded in 2019 at $942,000, representing a substantial 94.5% increase from the previous year. In 2020, import value dropped sharply to $[value_last_year] thousand, a decline of 51.3% year-over-year. The difference between the peak in 2019 and the trough in 2020 was 2.1-fold.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, China was the leading source of Costa Rica's non-coniferous sawnwood imports in value terms, accounting for 35.7% of total import value. Colombia followed with 21.4%, and the United States with 10.5%. Collectively, these three countries represented 67.7% of Costa Rica's total non-coniferous sawnwood import value.

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

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