Exports Increased 14% in First Two Months of 2006

Costa Rican exports increased by 14% in the first two months of the year for a total of $1.18 billion, Foreign Trade Minister Manuel González announced last week. The growth in February 2006 as compared to the previous year was 20%. Total exports last year were $7 billion, with 11.5% growth over the 2004 total (TT, Jan. 27).

González said in a statement that the agricultural sector is primarily responsible for the January-February increase. Many of the usual suspects made up the largest percentage of exports (pineapple, banana, food preparations and microprocessor components) and showed the most dynamic growth (sugar, pineapple, banana and aluminum sheets, among other products), but February also marked the first ever exports of carrots to Trinidad and Tobago by the company Inabrisa S.A., the statement said.

The United States, Holland and the countries of Central America were the leading purchasers of Costa Rican products during the period, while the Philippines, South Korea, Finland, Canada, Taiwan, Malaysia and the Dominican Republic showed the most growth.