Costa Rica-Italy Bilateral Trade Analysis 2023

Complete trade statistics: $515.18M total volume •Costa Rica surplus: $3.75M

Costa RicaItaly

$259.46M

Exports (2023)

ItalyCosta Rica

$255.71M

Imports (2023)

Trade Balance

$3.75M

Surplus for Costa Rica

Total Trade

$515.18M

Combined Volume

Trade Flow Visualization

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

Costa RicaItaly Exports

$259.46M
2023 Total

Export Market Intelligence

Product Diversity:
Specialized Focus
Market Share:
50.8% top product
1Fruit, edible: bananas, other than plantains, fresh or dried
$131.91M
50.8% of exports
2Fruit, edible: pineapples, fresh or dried
$102.68M
39.6% of exports
3Coffee: not roasted or decaffeinated
$9.40M
3.6% of exports
4Sugars: sucrose, chemically pure, in solid form, not containing added flavouring or colouring matter
$1.76M
0.7% of exports
5Juice: pineapple, of a Brix value exceeding 20, unfermented, not containing added spirit, whether or not containing added sugar or other sweetening matter
$1.46M
0.6% of exports

🎯 Strategic Export Focus

Costa Rica's export portfolio to Italy demonstrates strategic specialization, with fruit, edible: bananas, other than plantains, fresh or dried representing a key competitive advantage in this bilateral market.

ItalyCosta Rica Imports

$255.71M
2023 Total

Import Dependency Profile

Supply Diversity:
Concentrated
Critical Imports:
3.3% concentration
1Medicaments: consisting of mixed or unmixed products n.e.c. in heading no. 3004, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale
$8.44M
3.3% of imports
2Ceramic tiles: flags and paving, hearth or wall tiles other than those of subheadings 6907.30 and 6907.40, of a water absorption coefficient by weight not over 0.5%
$6.50M
2.5% of imports
3Machinery: for packing or wrapping
$5.69M
2.2% of imports
4Medicaments: containing antibiotics (other than penicillins, streptomycins or their derivatives), for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale
$5.22M
2.0% of imports
5Metal-rolling mills: tube mills
$5.22M
2.0% of imports

📦 Import Strategy Analysis

Costa Rica's import pattern from Italy reveals strategic sourcingin medicaments: consisting of mixed or unmixed products n.e.c. in heading no. 3004, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale, highlighting complementary economic structures and potential supply chain optimization opportunities.

Competitive Trade Position Analysis

🏆

Market Leadership

Costa Rica demonstrates competitive strength in exportingfruit, edible: bananas, other than plantains, fresh or dried to Italy, 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 $515.18M trade volume indicates substantial economic integration with room for expansion in emerging sectors.

Significant Partnership

Executive Summary: Costa Rica-Italy Trade Relationship

Key Trade Highlights 2023

  • Total Trade Volume: $515.18 millionrepresenting a significant bilateral economic relationship
  • Trade Balance: Costa Rica maintains a surplus of $3.75 million
  • Export Focus: Costa Rica's primary exports include fruit, edible: bananas, other than plantains, fresh or dried, fruit, edible: pineapples, fresh or dried, coffee: not roasted or decaffeinated
  • Import Dependencies: Key imports from Italy include medicaments: consisting of mixed or unmixed products n.e.c. in heading no. 3004, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale, ceramic tiles: flags and paving, hearth or wall tiles other than those of subheadings 6907.30 and 6907.40, of a water absorption coefficient by weight not over 0.5%, machinery: for packing or wrapping

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 $515.18M 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 fruit, edible: bananas, other than plantains, fresh or dried.

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 fruit, edible: bananas, other than plantains, fresh or driedcomplements Italy's demand patterns, creating natural trade synergies.

2

Supply Chain Integration

Deep integration in global value chains has strengthened bilateral linkages, particularly in medicaments: consisting of mixed or unmixed products n.e.c. in heading no. 3004, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale.

3

Market Access & Trade Policy

Favorable trade agreements and market access conditions have facilitated the growth of this $515.18M bilateral relationship.

Trade Pattern Insights

Trade ComplementarityAsymmetric
Seasonal VariationsModerate
Product ConcentrationMedium
Market DependencyModerate
🔮

Trade Relationship Outlook

The $515.18M 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 $515.18 million bilateral trade volume represents a important trade relationshipfor both economies.

Economic Significance: Moderate
🏭

Industrial Integration

Trade flows in fruit, edible: bananas, other than plantains, fresh or dried and medicaments: consisting of mixed or unmixed products n.e.c. in heading no. 3004, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale demonstrate deep industrial linkages and supply chain integration.

Supply Chain Integration: Specialized
⚖️

Trade Balance Effects

Costa Rica's trade surplus of $3.75 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 fruit, edible: pineapples, fresh or dried present expansion opportunities.
Market Diversification
Beyond current focus on medicaments: consisting of mixed or unmixed products n.e.c. in heading no. 3004, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale, 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 fruit, edible: bananas, other than plantains, fresh or dried 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 Italy represents a total trade volume of $515.18 million in 2023. This partnership demonstrates a favorable trade balance for Costa Rica, with exports exceeding importsby $3.75 million.

Export Strengths

Costa Rica's exports to Italy total $259.46 million, with competitive advantages in fruit, edible: bananas, other than plantains, fresh or dried, representing $131.91M or50.8% of bilateral exports.

Import Dependencies

Imports from Italy amount to $255.71 million, highlighting economic interdependence in medicaments: consisting of mixed or unmixed products n.e.c. in heading no. 3004, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale, with Medicaments: consisting of mixed or unmixed products n.e.c. in heading no. 3004, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale comprising3.3% 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 Italy in multiple formats.

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