Paddy rice market in Costa Rica

Earlier Report Observations

The paddy rice market volume in Costa Rica experienced a significant surge in 2023, reaching 382.7 thousand tonnes, a 29% increase from the previous year. This jump was primarily driven by the government's 'Ruta del Arroz' strategy, which led to a doubling of rice imports to 306.9 thousand tonnes. The policy shift followed the elimination of state price controls in August 2022, when Executive Decree 43,643 deregulated the market, transferring price determination to market forces.

Domestic production faced volatility, declining from 179.6 thousand tonnes in 2018 to 137.5 thousand tonnes in 2020 due to adverse weather events that reduced the number of producers and cultivated area. Although production recovered slightly to 151.0 thousand tonnes in 2021, it fell again to 76.1 thousand tonnes by 2023. The market remained highly concentrated, with three companies controlling 68% of sales, and national production struggled to compete with imported rice despite optimization in storage and differentiation strategies.

Production paddy rice in Costa Rica

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of paddy rice, 2017-2020

World map of production of paddy rice, 2017-2020

Costa Rica's paddy rice production declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, the country produced 137.5 thousand tons of paddy rice, marking a 12.4% decrease compared to the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production fell by 10%, with a compound annual growth rate of -3.5%. The highest production level was recorded in 2018 at 179.6 thousand tons, which represented a 17.5% increase from the previous year. The largest decline occurred in 2019, when production dropped by 12.6%.

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

Exports paddy rice from Costa Rica

Exports in kind, K t

The market showed an unstable trend throughout the analyzed period. Exports reached their lowest point in 2018 at 0.1 thousand tons and peaked in 2020 at 0.3 thousand tons, representing a 3.3-fold difference between these years. In 2020, paddy rice deliveries from Costa Rica saw a sharp rise of 162.5% compared to 2019. The largest decline was recorded in 2018, when exports fell by 13.6%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Panama clearly dominated Costa Rica's paddy rice exports in kind, accounting for 84.8% of total flows. Other countries each held significantly smaller shares during this period.

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 market exhibited an unstable trend throughout the timeframe. The lowest export value was registered in 2018 at 65 thousand US dollars, while the highest was recorded in 2020 at 445 thousand US dollars, reflecting a 6.8-fold gap between these years. In 2020, paddy rice volumes leaving Costa Rica showed a substantial increase of 139.9% year-over-year. The largest decline occurred in 2018, when export value dropped by 66.1%, while the largest increase was recorded in 2019 with a rise of 185.2%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, paddy rice from Costa Rica was primarily oriented towards Panama, whose share in total export value reached 92.4%.

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 paddy rice to Costa Rica

Imports in kind, K t

Cross-border shipments of paddy rice to Costa Rica increased for the second consecutive year. In 2020, import volume reached 184.5 thousand tons, representing a substantial 24.5% increase compared to 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports grew by 39.7%, with a compound annual growth rate of 11.8%. The lowest import volume was recorded in 2018 at 128.0 thousand tons, when imports declined by 3.1%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the United States and Brazil were the main sources for Costa Rica's paddy rice imports in kind, jointly accounting for 82.8% of total flows. The remaining share was distributed among other markets.

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

The value of paddy rice imports to Costa Rica increased for the second consecutive year. In 2020, Costa Rica imported 63 113 thousand US dollars worth of paddy rice, representing a significant 33.9% improvement from 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, import value grew by 37.7%, with a compound annual growth rate of 11.3%. The lowest import value was recorded in 2018 at 45 462 thousand US dollars, when imports declined by 0.8%.

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

During 2017-2020, the United States and Brazil remained the main markets for Costa Rica's paddy rice imports in value terms, jointly accounting for 82.9% of total flows. Other trading partners formed the remaining share.

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

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