Market research

Primary sugar crops market in Costa Rica

Release date: Mar 30, 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 2020, Costa Rica's primary sugar crops production remained stable and then increased to 4.2 million tons in 2020. This growth was supported by a stable cultivated area and the ongoing role of state institutions like the National Production Council (CNP), which stabilized prices and supported local growers. The sector's integrated organization under Law No. 7818 coordinated sugar industry actors, contributing to market stability during this period.

Following the 2020 peak, production volumes began a downward trend, declining to 3.4 million tons by 2023. This contraction was primarily driven by persistent regulatory challenges in agrochemical management. Insufficient institutional coordination among ministries and limitations in registering new crop protection products hampered productivity across the sugar sector, leading to reduced output.

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. Exports
1. 6.1. Exports (Direct Data)
  1. 6.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Costa Rica in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Costa Rica by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Costa Rica in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Costa Rica by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/kg
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Costa Rica, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Costa Rica by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
2. 6.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Costa Rica in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Costa Rica by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Costa Rica in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Costa Rica by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/kg
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Costa Rica, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Costa Rica by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
7. Imports
1. 7.1. Imports (Direct Data)
  1. 7.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Costa Rica in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Costa Rica by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Costa Rica in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Costa Rica by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/kg
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Costa Rica, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Costa Rica by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
2. 7.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Costa Rica in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Costa Rica by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Costa Rica in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Costa Rica by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/kg
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Costa Rica, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Costa Rica by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
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 primary sugar crops in Costa Rica

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of primary sugar crops, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of primary sugar crops, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Costa Rica's production of primary sugar crops reached 4 195 thousand tonnes in 2020, representing a 4.6% increase compared to 2019. The lowest production level was recorded in 2018 at 4 008 thousand tonnes, which also saw the largest decline of 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	(3.6%)	0.0%	4.6%	0.3%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports primary sugar crops from Costa Rica

Exports in kind, t

Costa Rica's exports of primary sugar crops grew for the third consecutive year in 2020, reaching 707.4 tonnes. This marked a 15.5% increase from the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, exports rose by 49.6%, averaging an annual growth rate of 14.4%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	8.6%	19.4%	15.5%	14.4%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Canada and the United States were the primary buyers of Costa Rica's primary sugar crops, together accounting for 85.7% of total exports in volume. The remaining share was distributed among various other countries.

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

Costa Rica's export value of primary sugar crops fell for the second year in a row in 2020, totaling 261.3 thousand US dollars. This represented a 33.4% decrease compared to 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, export value dropped by 39.5%, with an average annual decline of 15.4%. The highest value was recorded in 2018 at 484.5 thousand US dollars, which also saw the largest increase of 12.2%.

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	12.2%	(19.0%)	(33.4%)	(15.4%)

Source: SHEV.io

During 2017–2020, the United States and Canada continued to be the main markets for Costa Rica's primary sugar crop exports in value terms, jointly making up 85.5% of total export value. Other partners accounted for the remainder.

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