Market research

Sheep and goat meat market in Costa Rica

Release date: Mar 27, 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

The market for fresh, chilled, or frozen sheep and goat meat in Costa Rica showed variable trends from 2018 to 2023. After a minor contraction from 559.2 tons in 2018 to 553.4 tons in 2019, consumption declined more significantly to 521.5 tons in 2020.

A rebound followed, with the market volume rising to 548.2 tons in 2021 and further accelerating to 569.7 tons in 2022. This growth was primarily fueled by increased demand from ethnic restaurants and hotels, which favored fresh, high-quality domestic product. The concurrent formalization of several certified processing plants for sheep and goat derivatives enhanced local supply capabilities, supporting the market expansion.

In 2023, the market stabilized at 566.8 tons. Demand remained underpinned by Costa Rica's tourism industry, which consistently requires premium meat products prepared to international standards.

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, 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, 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, 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, kg
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Costa Rica in kind, 2018-2024, kg
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Costa Rica by countries, 2018-2024, kg
    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/kg
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Costa Rica, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Costa Rica by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
2. 6.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Imports in kind, kg
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Costa Rica in kind, 2018-2024, kg
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Costa Rica by countries, 2018-2024, kg
    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/kg
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Costa Rica, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Costa Rica by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
7. Trade balance
1. 7.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 7.1.1. In kind, kg
  2. 7.1.2. In value, K $ US
2. 7.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. In kind, kg
  2. 7.2.2. In value, K $ US
8. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
1. 8.1. Direct Data
  1. 8.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 8.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 8.2. Mirror Data
  1. 8.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 8.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production sheep and goat meat in Costa Rica

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of sheep and goat meat, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of sheep and goat meat, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Sheep and goat meat production in Costa Rica has continued its downward trend for the third year in a row. In 2020, the country produced 510.2 t of sheep and goat meat, marking a 1.2% decrease from the previous year.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(0.4%)	(0.4%)	(1.2%)	(0.7%)

Source: SHEV.io

Exports sheep and goat meat from Costa Rica

According to desk research findings, Costa Rica did not export any sheep or goat meat between 2017 and 2020.

Imports sheep and goat meat to Costa Rica

Imports in kind, kg

Imports of sheep and goat meat into Costa Rica fell for the second consecutive year. In 2020, imports totaled 11 301 kg, representing a significant 69.4% drop compared to 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports declined by 68.9%, with a compound annual growth rate of -32.2%. The peak import volume was recorded in 2018 at 40 813 kg, while the largest year-on-year increase occurred that same year at 12.4%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	12.4%	(9.4%)	(69.4%)	(32.2%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the United States and Australia dominated Costa Rica's sheep and goat meat imports, jointly accounting for 85.6% of total volume. The remaining imports came from a variety of other countries, though their individual shares were relatively small.

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

Following two years of growth, sheep and goat meat imports into Costa Rica declined in value terms. In 2020, import value reached 195.1 K $ US, showing a sharp 59.7% decrease from the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, import value fell by 39.8%, which translates to an annualized decline of 15.6%. The highest import value was recorded in 2019 at 483.6 K $ US, while the largest year-on-year increase occurred in 2018 at 44.7%.

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	44.7%	3.2%	(59.7%)	(15.6%)

Source: SHEV.io

During the 2017-2020 period, Australia and the United States were the dominant players in Costa Rica's sheep and goat meat imports by value, together capturing 90.4% of total import value. The remaining imports were distributed among various other trading partners.

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