Marine Forwarding

Country guide

Shipping between the US and Nicaragua

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

In 2025 the United States exported $2.4 billion of goods to Nicaragua and imported $5.0 billion from there. Nicaragua ranked 65th among US export markets and 57th among sources of US imports.

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5 ports in Nicaragua recorded in the World Port Index
US exports, 2025
$2.4BDown 10.0% on 2024 ($2.7 billion)
US imports, 2025
$5.0BUp 7.9% on 2024 ($4.6 billion)
Goods balance
$2.5BUS deficit
Export market rank
65thAmong destinations of US goods
Import source rank
57thAmong 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 Nicaragua

Mineral fuels and oils (chapter 27) led US exports to Nicaragua at $843.7 million, 35% of the total. The top three chapters made up 52%.

  1. 27Mineral fuels and oils$843.7 million34.7%
  2. 10Cereals$206.0 million8.5%
  3. 85Electrical machinery and equipment$204.0 million8.4%
  4. 84Machinery and mechanical appliances$143.5 million5.9%
  5. 61Knitted apparel$133.2 million5.5%

US imports from Nicaragua

Knitted apparel (chapter 61) led US imports from Nicaragua at $1.6 billion, 33% of the total. The top three chapters made up 62%.

  1. 61Knitted apparel$1.6 billion32.7%
  2. 85Electrical machinery and equipment$818.0 million16.5%
  3. 71Precious stones, metals and jewelry$652.9 million13.2%
  4. 02Meat$432.3 million8.7%
  5. 09Coffee, tea and spices$398.6 million8.0%

Trade terms

The United States and Nicaragua 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 Nicaragua 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 Nicaragua.

Exports through the port, 2025
$3.6M0.1% of the US total with Nicaragua
Leading export goods
Machinery and mechanical appliancesHS chapter 84, $1.9 million
Imports through the port, 2025
$18.7M0.4% of the US total with Nicaragua
Leading import goods
Coffee, tea and spicesHS chapter 09, $12.6 million

Trade through Norfolk-Newport News

Ports in Nicaragua

3 ports in Nicaragua have a guide here, with depths and facilities from the World Port Index. In the index, Corinto records the deepest cargo pier of them, at 12.7 m.

Also recorded in the World Port Index for Nicaragua: El Bluff and Puerto Cabezas.

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.