Market research

Spinach market in Costa Rica

Release date: Mar 27, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2020, spinach production in Costa Rica remained around 63 000 kg annually, supported by year-round cultivation cycles and optimized irrigation and pest control practices. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 reduced the frequency of purchases at farmer fairs, but stable household consumption and public programs that included spinach maintained demand, while a sharp drop in exports increased the domestic market volume to 64 195 kg.

Between 2021 and 2022, farmers adopted drip irrigation and integrated pest management to improve resilience. During this period, growing consumer demand for organic products led to the certification of spinach under the National Organic Control System, creating a premium market segment that stimulated exports. In 2022, exports surged to 10 803 kg, diverting supply from the local market and reducing the domestic volume to 53 057 kg. New traceability regulations for wholesale marketing also came into effect.

In 2023, drought conditions in central growing areas pressured planted area, yet production slightly increased to 64 280 kg as improved agricultural practices mitigated the climate impact. Exports fell back to 2 372 kg, allowing the domestic market to recover to 61 908 kg. Regulatory developments, including updated biotechnology rules and a new technical regulation setting pesticide residue limits and organic labeling requirements, were enacted in 2024, shaping future market 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, kg
  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, kg
  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, kg
  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, kg
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Costa Rica in kind, 2018-2024, kg
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Costa Rica by countries, 2018-2024, kg
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Exports in value, $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Costa Rica in value, 2018-2024, $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Costa Rica by countries, 2018-2024, $ 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/t
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Costa Rica, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Costa Rica by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 6.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Exports in kind, kg
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Costa Rica in kind, 2018-2024, kg
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Costa Rica by countries, 2018-2024, kg
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Exports in value, $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Costa Rica in value, 2018-2024, $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Costa Rica by countries, 2018-2024, $ 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/t
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Costa Rica, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Costa Rica by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
7. Trade balance
1. 7.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 7.1.1. In kind, kg
  2. 7.1.2. In value, $ US
2. 7.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. In kind, kg
  2. 7.2.2. In value, $ 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 spinach in Costa Rica

In kind, 2017-2020, kg

Top producers of spinach, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of spinach, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

In Costa Rica, spinach production reached 65,300 kg in 2020, marking a 4.3% increase from the previous year. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, overall production grew by 4%, with an average annual growth rate of 1.3%. The lowest production level was recorded in 2019 at 62,610 kg, which also saw the largest decline of 0.8% during this timeframe.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	0.5%	(0.8%)	4.3%	1.3%

Source: SHEV.io

In value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Following two consecutive years of decline, spinach production in Costa Rica rebounded in 2020. The output was valued at 193.6 thousand US dollars, up 2.4% compared to 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, however, production value decreased by 35.2%, translating to an average annual decline of 13.5%. The lowest value was recorded in 2019 at 189.0 thousand US dollars, while the most significant drop occurred in 2018 with a 27.5% decrease.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(27.5%)	(12.8%)	2.4%	(13.5%)

Source: SHEV.io

Exports spinach from Costa Rica

Exports in kind, kg

The market experienced notable fluctuations during this period. Costa Rica exported 1,105 kg of spinach in 2020, representing a sharp 73.1% decrease from the previous year. The highest export volume was recorded in 2019 at 4,103 kg, creating a 3.7-fold difference between the peak in 2019 and the low in 2020. The largest increase occurred in 2018 with a 68.5% rise.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	68.5%	19.9%	(73.1%)	(18.4%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Panama dominated Costa Rica's spinach exports in volume, accounting for 79.8% of total shipments. The remaining exports were distributed among several smaller trading partners.

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, $ US

The market demonstrated volatility throughout the observed period. Export values peaked in 2019 before dropping to their lowest point in 2020, with the 2019 value being 3.8 times higher than that of 2020. In 2020, spinach exports from Costa Rica totaled 3,276 US dollars, down 73.6% from the previous year. The maximum value was recorded in 2019 at 12,388 US dollars, while the largest increase occurred in 2018 with a 21.6% rise.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	21.6%	5.4%	(73.6%)	(30.3%)

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, Panama consistently represented 71.9% of Costa Rica's total spinach export value, highlighting a strong market concentration. The remaining export value was spread across other countries.

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