Costa Rica-Honduras Bilateral Trade Analysis 2023

Complete trade statistics: $786.31M total volume •Costa Rica surplus: $414.88M

Costa RicaHonduras

$600.60M

Exports (2023)

HondurasCosta Rica

$185.71M

Imports (2023)

Trade Balance

$414.88M

Surplus for Costa Rica

Total Trade

$786.31M

Combined Volume

Trade Flow Visualization

Direct trade relationship between Costa Rica and Honduras. 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-Honduras commercial relationship and competitive positioning in global markets.

Costa RicaHonduras Exports

$600.60M
2023 Total

Export Market Intelligence

Product Diversity:
Specialized Focus
Market Share:
19.9% top product
1Food preparations: n.e.c. in item no. 2106.10
$119.48M
19.9% of exports
2Insulated electric conductors: for a voltage not exceeding 1000 volts, not fitted with connectors
$55.35M
9.2% of exports
3Iron or non-alloy steel: bars and rods, hot-rolled, hot-drawn or hot-extruded, containing indentations, ribs, grooves or other deformations produced during the rolling process or twisted after rolling
$33.87M
5.6% of exports
4Medicaments: consisting of mixed or unmixed products n.e.c. in heading no. 3004, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale
$19.94M
3.3% of exports
5Sanitary towels (pads) and tampons, napkins and napkin liners for babies and similar articles, of any material
$19.54M
3.3% of exports

🎯 Strategic Export Focus

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

HondurasCosta Rica Imports

$185.71M
2023 Total

Import Dependency Profile

Supply Diversity:
Concentrated
Critical Imports:
14.0% concentration
1Paper and paperboard: cartons, boxes and cases, of corrugated paper or paperboard
$26.00M
14.0% of imports
2Dog or cat food: put up for retail sale, used in animal feeding
$13.57M
7.3% of imports
3Food preparations: bakers' wares n.e.c. in heading no. 1605, whether or not containing cocoa: communion wafers, empty cachets suitable for pharmaceutical use, sealing wafers, rice papers and similar products
$12.31M
6.6% of imports
4Coffee: not roasted or decaffeinated
$10.28M
5.5% of imports
5Medicaments: consisting of mixed or unmixed products n.e.c. in heading no. 3004, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale
$9.70M
5.2% of imports

📦 Import Strategy Analysis

Costa Rica's import pattern from Honduras reveals significant dependencyin paper and paperboard: cartons, boxes and cases, of corrugated paper or paperboard, 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 Honduras, leveraging comparative advantages.

Export Leader in 5+ Categories
🔄

Trade Complementarity

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

Specialized Exchange
📈

Growth Potential

The $786.31M trade volume indicates substantial economic integration with room for expansion in emerging sectors.

Significant Partnership

Executive Summary: Costa Rica-Honduras Trade Relationship

Key Trade Highlights 2023

  • Total Trade Volume: $786.31 millionrepresenting a significant bilateral economic relationship
  • Trade Balance: Costa Rica maintains a surplus of $414.88 million
  • Export Focus: Costa Rica's primary exports include food preparations: n.e.c. in item no. 2106.10, insulated electric conductors: for a voltage not exceeding 1000 volts, not fitted with connectors, iron or non-alloy steel: bars and rods, hot-rolled, hot-drawn or hot-extruded, containing indentations, ribs, grooves or other deformations produced during the rolling process or twisted after rolling
  • Import Dependencies: Key imports from Honduras include paper and paperboard: cartons, boxes and cases, of corrugated paper or paperboard, dog or cat food: put up for retail sale, used in animal feeding, food preparations: bakers' wares n.e.c. in heading no. 1605, whether or not containing cocoa: communion wafers, empty cachets suitable for pharmaceutical use, sealing wafers, rice papers and similar products

Strategic Trade Indicators

Trade IntensityHigh
Export DiversificationConcentrated
Trade Balance HealthImbalanced

📈 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 $786.31M 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 Honduras's demand patterns, creating natural trade synergies.

2

Supply Chain Integration

Deep integration in global value chains has strengthened bilateral linkages, particularly in paper and paperboard: cartons, boxes and cases, of corrugated paper or paperboard.

3

Market Access & Trade Policy

Favorable trade agreements and market access conditions have facilitated the growth of this $786.31M bilateral relationship.

Trade Pattern Insights

Trade ComplementarityAsymmetric
Seasonal VariationsModerate
Product ConcentrationMedium
Market DependencyHigh
🔮

Trade Relationship Outlook

The $786.31M 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 $786.31 million 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 and paperboard: cartons, boxes and cases, of corrugated paper or paperboard demonstrate deep industrial linkages and supply chain integration.

Supply Chain Integration: Specialized
⚖️

Trade Balance Effects

Costa Rica's trade surplus of $414.88 million strengthens its overall economic position in this bilateral relationship.

Balance Impact: Export Advantage

Strategic Future Outlook

🚀Growth Opportunities

Emerging Sectors
Technology transfer and innovation cooperation in insulated electric conductors: for a voltage not exceeding 1000 volts, not fitted with connectors present expansion opportunities.
Market Diversification
Beyond current focus on paper and paperboard: cartons, boxes and cases, of corrugated paper or paperboard, new product categories offer potential for trade expansion.

⚠️Risk Factors

Supply Chain Vulnerabilities
High trade imbalance may create supply chain risks
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 Honduras represents a total trade volume of $786.31 million in 2023. This partnership demonstrates a favorable trade balance for Costa Rica, with exports exceeding importsby $414.88 million.

Export Strengths

Costa Rica's exports to Honduras total $600.60 million, with competitive advantages in food preparations: n.e.c. in item no. 2106.10, representing $119.48M or19.9% of bilateral exports.

Import Dependencies

Imports from Honduras amount to $185.71 million, highlighting economic interdependence in paper and paperboard: cartons, boxes and cases, of corrugated paper or paperboard, with Paper and paperboard: cartons, boxes and cases, of corrugated paper or paperboard comprising14.0% 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 Honduras in multiple formats.

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