Costa Rica
↔
Guatemala

Costa Rica-Guatemala Bilateral Trade Analysis 2023

Complete trade statistics: $1.53B total volume •Costa Rica surplus: $237.12M

Costa Rica → Guatemala

$882.83M

Exports (2023)

Guatemala → Costa Rica

$645.71M

Imports (2023)

Trade Balance

$237.12M

Surplus for Costa Rica

Total Trade

$1.53B

Combined Volume

Trade Flow Visualization

Direct trade relationship between Costa Rica and Guatemala. Green line shows exports from Costa Rica, red line shows imports.

Detailed Product Trade Analysis

Comprehensive breakdown of trade flows by product category, revealing the specialized nature of the Costa Rica-Guatemala commercial relationship and competitive positioning in global markets.

Costa Rica → Guatemala Exports

$882.83M
2023 Total

Export Market Intelligence

Product Diversity:
Specialized Focus
Market Share:
20.0% top product
1Food preparations: n.e.c. in item no. 2106.10
$176.57M
20.0% of exports
2Sauces and preparations therefor: mixed condiments and mixed seasonings
$45.89M
5.2% of exports
3Cotton yarn: (not sewing thread), single, of combed fibres, less than 85% by weight of cotton, less than 232.56 but not less than 192.31 decitex (exceeding 43 but not exceeding 52 metric number), not for retail sale
$31.12M
3.5% of exports
4Sanitary towels (pads) and tampons, napkins and napkin liners for babies and similar articles, of any material
$30.54M
3.5% of exports
5Insulated electric conductors: for a voltage not exceeding 1000 volts, not fitted with connectors
$29.66M
3.4% of exports

🎯 Strategic Export Focus

Costa Rica's export portfolio to Guatemala demonstrates strategic specialization, with food preparations: n.e.c. in item no. 2106.10 representing a key competitive advantage in this bilateral market.

Guatemala → Costa Rica Imports

$645.71M
2023 Total

Import Dependency Profile

Supply Diversity:
Concentrated
Critical Imports:
5.8% concentration
1Paper articles: toilet paper
$37.72M
5.8% of imports
2Medicaments: consisting of mixed or unmixed products n.e.c. in heading no. 3004, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale
$34.64M
5.4% of imports
3Washing and cleaning preparations: surface-active, whether or not containing soap (excluding those of heading no. 3401), put up for retail sale
$31.12M
4.8% of imports
4Rubber: technically specified natural rubber (TSNR), in primary forms or in plates, sheets or strip (excluding latex and smoked sheets)
$17.09M
2.6% of imports
5Soap and organic surface-active products: in the form of bars, cakes, moulded shapes, and paper, wadding, felt and nonwovens, impregnated, coated or covered with soap or detergent, for toilet use (including medicated products)
$15.96M
2.5% of imports

📦 Import Strategy Analysis

Costa Rica's import pattern from Guatemala reveals strategic sourcingin paper articles: toilet paper, highlighting complementary economic structures and potential supply chain optimization opportunities.

Competitive Trade Position Analysis

🏆

Market Leadership

Costa Rica demonstrates competitive strength in exportingfood preparations: n.e.c. in item no. 2106.10 to Guatemala, leveraging comparative advantages.

Export Leader in 5+ Categories
🔄

Trade Complementarity

The bilateral relationship showsstrongcomplementarity, with each country specializing in different sectors.

Highly Balanced
📈

Growth Potential

The $1.53B trade volume indicates substantial economic integration with room for expansion in emerging sectors.

Significant Partnership

Executive Summary: Costa Rica-Guatemala Trade Relationship

Key Trade Highlights 2023

  • Total Trade Volume: $1.53 billionrepresenting a significant bilateral economic relationship
  • Trade Balance: Costa Rica maintains a surplus of $237.12 million
  • Export Focus: Costa Rica's primary exports include food preparations: n.e.c. in item no. 2106.10, sauces and preparations therefor: mixed condiments and mixed seasonings, cotton yarn: (not sewing thread), single, of combed fibres, less than 85% by weight of cotton, less than 232.56 but not less than 192.31 decitex (exceeding 43 but not exceeding 52 metric number), not for retail sale
  • Import Dependencies: Key imports from Guatemala include paper articles: toilet paper, medicaments: consisting of mixed or unmixed products n.e.c. in heading no. 3004, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale, washing and cleaning preparations: surface-active, whether or not containing soap (excluding those of heading no. 3401), put up for retail sale

Strategic Trade Indicators

Trade IntensityHigh
Export DiversificationConcentrated
Trade Balance HealthBalanced

📈 Market Position: This bilateral trade relationship represents an important regional trade partnerships, with complementary economic strengths driving sustained commercial exchange.

Historical Trade Analysis & Economic Context

Trade Evolution Timeline

2019-2023: Recent Trends

Current trade volume of $1.53B represents the culmination of evolving bilateral commercial relationships, influenced by global supply chain shifts and changing economic priorities.

2015-2019: Growth Period

Sustained expansion in bilateral trade driven by complementary economic structures, with Costa Rica leveraging its comparative advantages in food preparations: n.e.c. in item no. 2106.10.

2010-2015: Foundation Building

Establishment of modern trade frameworks and reduction of barriers, facilitating increased commercial exchange and investment flows between the two economies.

Pre-2010: Early Development

Initial stages of bilateral trade relationship development, with focus on traditional export-import patterns and gradual market integration.

Key Economic Drivers

1

Comparative Advantage

Costa Rica's specialization in food preparations: n.e.c. in item no. 2106.10complements Guatemala's demand patterns, creating natural trade synergies.

2

Supply Chain Integration

Deep integration in global value chains has strengthened bilateral linkages, particularly in paper articles: toilet paper.

3

Market Access & Trade Policy

Favorable trade agreements and market access conditions have facilitated the growth of this $1.53B bilateral relationship.

Trade Pattern Insights

Trade ComplementarityAsymmetric
Seasonal VariationsModerate
Product ConcentrationMedium
Market DependencyModerate
🔮

Trade Relationship Outlook

The $1.53B bilateral trade volume positions this relationship for continued growth, supported by technological advancement, evolving consumer preferences, and strengthening economic ties. Key opportunities lie in expanding cooperation in emerging sectors while managing potential supply chain vulnerabilities.

Economic Impact & Strategic Outlook

Economic Impact Assessment

💰

Trade Volume Impact

The $1.53 billion bilateral trade volume represents a important trade relationshipfor both economies.

Economic Significance: Moderate
🏭

Industrial Integration

Trade flows in food preparations: n.e.c. in item no. 2106.10 and paper articles: toilet paper demonstrate deep industrial linkages and supply chain integration.

Supply Chain Integration: Specialized
⚖️

Trade Balance Effects

Costa Rica's trade surplus of $237.12 million strengthens its overall economic position in this bilateral relationship.

Balance Impact: Well Balanced

Strategic Future Outlook

🚀Growth Opportunities

Emerging Sectors
Technology transfer and innovation cooperation in sauces and preparations therefor: mixed condiments and mixed seasonings present expansion opportunities.
Market Diversification
Beyond current focus on paper articles: toilet paper, new product categories offer potential for trade expansion.

⚠️Risk Factors

Supply Chain Vulnerabilities
Moderate concentration in key sectors requires monitoring
Market Competition
Global competition in food preparations: n.e.c. in item no. 2106.10 may affect future market positioning.

🎯Strategic Recommendations

  • Strengthen cooperation in high-value sectors beyond current trade patterns
  • Develop alternative supply chains to reduce dependency risks
  • Explore joint ventures in emerging technology sectors
  • Enhance trade facilitation and reduce transaction costs

Market Position & Competitive Summary

The bilateral trade relationship between Costa Rica and Guatemala represents a total trade volume of $1.53 billion in 2023. This partnership demonstrates a favorable trade balance for Costa Rica, with exports exceeding importsby $237.12 million.

Export Strengths

Costa Rica's exports to Guatemala total $882.83 million, with competitive advantages in food preparations: n.e.c. in item no. 2106.10, representing $176.57M or20.0% of bilateral exports.

Import Dependencies

Imports from Guatemala amount to $645.71 million, highlighting economic interdependence in paper articles: toilet paper, with Paper articles: toilet paper comprising5.8% of total imports.

The trade relationship reflects broader economic patterns and comparative advantages. The trade surplus indicates Costa Rica's competitive position in this bilateral relationship. This partnership is characterized by complementary trade flows, with each country specializing in different product categories based on their respective economic strengths, industrial capabilities, and position in global value chains.

Download Bilateral Trade Data

Access detailed trade data between Costa Rica and Guatemala in multiple formats.

Data Source: CEPII BACI (Base pour l'Analyse du Commerce International) • Last Updated: January 2025 • Coverage: 1995-2023