Marine Forwarding

Country guide

Shipping between the US and Costa Rica

Central America and the Caribbean · 3 port guides · US free trade agreement partner

In 2025 the United States exported $10.2 billion of goods to Costa Rica and imported $13.9 billion from there. Costa Rica ranked 34th among US export markets and 34th among sources of US imports.

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6 ports in Costa Rica recorded in the World Port Index
US exports, 2025
$10.2BUp 5.8% on 2024 ($9.6 billion)
US imports, 2025
$13.9BUp 19.5% on 2024 ($11.6 billion)
Goods balance
$3.7BUS deficit
Export market rank
34thAmong destinations of US goods
Import source rank
34thAmong sources of US imports

Top goods each way

The five largest Harmonized System chapters by value in 2025, with each chapter's share of the total.

US exports to Costa Rica

Mineral fuels and oils (chapter 27) led US exports to Costa Rica at $2.0 billion, 20% of the total. The top three chapters made up 45%.

  1. 27Mineral fuels and oils$2.0 billion20.1%
  2. 85Electrical machinery and equipment$1.4 billion13.4%
  3. 90Optical, medical and precision instruments$1.2 billion11.4%
  4. 39Plastics$872.2 million8.6%
  5. 84Machinery and mechanical appliances$740.3 million7.3%

US imports from Costa Rica

Optical, medical and precision instruments (chapter 90) led US imports from Costa Rica at $7.0 billion, 51% of the total. The top three chapters made up 80%.

  1. 90Optical, medical and precision instruments$7.0 billion50.6%
  2. 85Electrical machinery and equipment$2.8 billion20.4%
  3. 08Fruit and nuts$1.2 billion8.6%
  4. 98Special classification provisions$701.6 million5.0%
  5. 09Coffee, tea and spices$232.9 million1.7%

Trade terms

The United States and Costa Rica are parties to the Dominican Republic-Central America FTA (CAFTA-DR). Goods that meet its rules of origin can qualify for reduced or zero duty. Our certificates of origin page covers the paperwork.

The International Trade Administration covers the import rules and documents Costa Rica requires in its Country Commercial Guide.

Through Norfolk-Newport News

The Census Bureau records trade by the US port it passes through. These are its 2025 figures for Norfolk-Newport News, Virginia, for trade with Costa Rica.

Exports through the port, 2025
$59.2M0.6% of the US total with Costa Rica
Leading export goods
Machinery and mechanical appliancesHS chapter 84, $10.0 million
Imports through the port, 2025
$11.2M0.1% of the US total with Costa Rica
Leading import goods
Optical, medical and precision instrumentsHS chapter 90, $4.2 million

Trade through Norfolk-Newport News

Ports in Costa Rica

3 ports in Costa Rica have a guide here, with depths and facilities from the World Port Index. In the index, Puerto Caldera records the deepest cargo pier of them, at 13 m.

Also recorded in the World Port Index for Costa Rica: Puerto Moin, Puerto Quepos and Puntarenas.

Sources

  • US trade figures: US Census Bureau, International Trade API, HS2 total exports and general imports for calendar 2024 and 2025, retrieved November 4, 2026.
  • Port data: National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, World Port Index (Pub 150), from NGA's UpdatedPub150.csv as captured by the Internet Archive on September 29, 2026.
  • Trade agreements: Office of the US Trade Representative, free trade agreements, checked November 3, 2026.
  • Import requirements: International Trade Administration, Country Commercial Guides, checked November 3, 2026.
  • Map: Natural Earth 1:110m land, public domain.