Market research

Palm oil and fractions market in Costa Rica

$Palm oil and fractions market in Costa Rica$

Release date: Mar 28, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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File format: docx, xlsx

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Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2022, palm oil production in Costa Rica grew steadily, supported by the national seed certification program that ensured planting material quality and by the expansion of cultivated area, which exceeded 80,000 hectares by 2021. The sector's recovery from years of low international prices, with oil prices surpassing USD 900 per ton in 2022, provided further incentive for increased output. In 2023, production stabilized as the El Niño phenomenon reduced fruit yield and oil content, tempering the previous growth trend.

Imports of palm oil dropped sharply in 2021 and remained low thereafter, coinciding with rising international prices that made foreign oil less competitive against domestic production. The domestic market volume fluctuated during the period, falling in 2021 when imports contracted, then rebounding in 2022 as production rose. Industry support from the National Palm Producers Chamber (CANAPALMA) and the implementation of national technical standards for fruit quality and transparency helped strengthen the local supply chain.

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. 4.2. 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, K t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Costa Rica in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Costa Rica by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Costa Rica in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Costa Rica by countries, 2018-2024, M $ 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, K t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Costa Rica in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Costa Rica by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Costa Rica in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Costa Rica by countries, 2018-2024, M $ 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, K t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Costa Rica in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Costa Rica by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Costa Rica in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Costa Rica by countries, 2018-2024, M $ 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, K t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Costa Rica in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Costa Rica by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Costa Rica in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Costa Rica by countries, 2018-2024, M $ 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, K t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, M $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, K t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, M $ 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 palm oil and fractions in Costa Rica

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, Costa Rica ranked 17th globally in palm oil and fractions production volume.

Top producers of palm oil and fractions, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of palm oil and fractions, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Costa Rica's palm oil and fractions production rebounded after two years of decline. In 2020, output reached 260.1 K t, marking a modest 5.0% increase from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, production grew by 3.2%, with an average annual growth rate of 1.1%. The lowest production level was recorded in 2019 at 247.8 K t, which saw a 1.0% decrease.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(0.7%)	(1.0%)	5.0%	1.1%

Source: SHEV.io

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Costa Rica's palm oil and fractions production value recovered following a two-year downturn. In 2020, production was valued at 166.4 M $ US, reflecting a sharp 27.6% rise compared to the year before. However, over the 2017-2020 period, production value declined by 11.3%, with an average annual decrease of 3.9%. The lowest value was recorded in 2019 at 130.4 M $ US, while the largest drop occurred in 2018 with an 18.3% fall.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(18.3%)	(14.9%)	27.6%	(3.9%)

Source: SHEV.io

Exports palm oil and fractions from Costa Rica

Exports in kind, K t

In 2020, Costa Rica exported 232.0 K t of palm oil and fractions, showing a significant 10.1% increase from the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, exports grew by 36%, equivalent to an average annual rate of 10.8%. The largest increase was recorded in 2018 at 24.1%, while exports saw a slight 0.4% decline in 2019.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	24.1%	(0.4%)	10.1%	10.8%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Mexico accounted for the majority of Costa Rica's palm oil and fractions exports in volume, capturing 72.3% of total flows, with the remainder distributed among various smaller markets.

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, M $ US

In 2020, Costa Rica's palm oil and fractions export value reached 148.4 M $ US, representing a 33.8% advance over the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, export value increased by 16.9%, with an average annual growth rate of 5.3%. The lowest value was recorded in 2019 at 110.9 M $ US, which saw a 14.5% decline.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	2.1%	(14.5%)	33.8%	5.3%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Mexico dominated Costa Rica's palm oil and fractions exports in value terms, holding 72.6% of the total, while the remaining flows were spread across multiple smaller trading partners.

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 palm oil and fractions to Costa Rica

Imports in kind, K t

Costa Rica's palm oil and fractions imports declined after two years of growth. In 2020, imports totaled 66.2 K t, down 4.2% from the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports increased by 18.1%, equating to an average annual rate of 5.7%. The highest import volume was recorded in 2019 at 69.0 K t, with the largest increase occurring in 2018 at 11.7%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	11.7%	10.3%	(4.2%)	5.7%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Panama and Guatemala were the primary sources for Costa Rica's palm oil and fractions imports in volume, together accounting for 11.6% 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, M $ US

Costa Rica's palm oil and fractions import value rose for the second consecutive year. In 2020, imports were valued at 50.1 M $ US, up 17.4% from the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, import value increased by 20.3%, with an average annual growth rate of 6.4%. The lowest value was recorded in 2018 at 39.5 M $ US, which saw a 5.3% decline.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(5.3%)	8.1%	17.4%	6.4%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Panama and Guatemala remained the main suppliers of palm oil and fractions to Costa Rica in value terms, jointly representing 10.5% of total imports.

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