Costa Rica-Spain Bilateral Trade Analysis 2023

Complete trade statistics: $737.94M total volume •Costa Rica deficit: $14,185

Costa RicaSpain

$368.96M

Exports (2023)

SpainCosta Rica

$368.98M

Imports (2023)

Trade Balance

$14,185

Deficit for Costa Rica

Total Trade

$737.94M

Combined Volume

Trade Flow Visualization

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

Costa RicaSpain Exports

$368.96M
2023 Total

Export Market Intelligence

Product Diversity:
Specialized Focus
Market Share:
30.0% top product
1Fruit, edible: bananas, other than plantains, fresh or dried
$110.57M
30.0% of exports
2Fruit, edible: pineapples, fresh or dried
$106.04M
28.7% of exports
3Vegetable oils: palm oil and its fractions, crude, not chemically modified
$36.57M
9.9% of exports
4Artificial parts of the body: excluding artificial joints
$17.99M
4.9% of exports
5Juice: pineapple, of a Brix value not exceeding 20, unfermented, (not containing added spirit), whether or not containing added sugar or other sweetening matter
$12.33M
3.3% of exports

🎯 Strategic Export Focus

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

SpainCosta Rica Imports

$368.98M
2023 Total

Import Dependency Profile

Supply Diversity:
Concentrated
Critical Imports:
10.1% concentration
1Medicaments: consisting of mixed or unmixed products n.e.c. in heading no. 3004, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale
$37.10M
10.1% 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%
$18.14M
4.9% of imports
3Copper: wire, of refined copper, of which the maximum cross-sectional dimension exceeds 6mm
$14.40M
3.9% of imports
4Wine: still, in containers holding 2 litres or less
$6.87M
1.9% of imports
5Vegetable oils: olive oil and its fractions, virgin, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified
$6.59M
1.8% of imports

📦 Import Strategy Analysis

Costa Rica's import pattern from Spain 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 Spain, 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 $737.94M trade volume indicates substantial economic integration with room for expansion in emerging sectors.

Significant Partnership

Executive Summary: Costa Rica-Spain Trade Relationship

Key Trade Highlights 2023

  • Total Trade Volume: $737.94 millionrepresenting a significant bilateral economic relationship
  • Trade Balance: Costa Rica maintains a deficit of $14.19 thousand
  • Export Focus: Costa Rica's primary exports include fruit, edible: bananas, other than plantains, fresh or dried, fruit, edible: pineapples, fresh or dried, vegetable oils: palm oil and its fractions, crude, not chemically modified
  • Import Dependencies: Key imports from Spain 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%, copper: wire, of refined copper, of which the maximum cross-sectional dimension exceeds 6mm

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 $737.94M 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 Spain'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 $737.94M bilateral relationship.

Trade Pattern Insights

Trade ComplementarityAsymmetric
Seasonal VariationsModerate
Product ConcentrationMedium
Market DependencyModerate
🔮

Trade Relationship Outlook

The $737.94M 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 $737.94 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 deficit of $14.19 thousand impacts 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 Spain represents a total trade volume of $737.94 million in 2023. This partnership demonstrates an unfavorable trade balance for Costa Rica, with imports exceeding exportsby $14.19 thousand.

Export Strengths

Costa Rica's exports to Spain total $368.96 million, with competitive advantages in fruit, edible: bananas, other than plantains, fresh or dried, representing $110.57M or30.0% of bilateral exports.

Import Dependencies

Imports from Spain amount to $368.98 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 comprising10.1% of total imports.

The trade relationship reflects broader economic patterns and comparative advantages. The trade deficit indicates Costa Rica's strategic sourcing from Spain. 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 Spain in multiple formats.

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