Costa Rica exports of medical devices up 35% from a year ago

May 22^nd, 2015 (InsideCostaRica.com) Exports of medical devices and precision equipment from Costa Rica increased 35% in the first four months of this year compared to the same period in 2014, according to data released on Thursday by Costa Rica’s foreign trade promotion agency, PROCOMER.

Between January and April of this year, the country exported $697 million USD worth of such goods, compared to $515 million during the same period in 2014.

Costa Rican president, Luis Guillermo Solis is currently concluding a multi-city tour in the United States where the president is hoping to attract even more investment from companies in the sector.

Despite the positive news in medical devices, total cumulative exports from Costa Rica fell by $676 million USD, or 17.5%, between January and April of this year compared to the same period in 2014.

Cumulative exports between January and April amounted to $3.176 billion compared to $3.851 during the same period a year earlier, according to PROCOMER.

The slump in total exports is blamed mostly on Intel’s decision to cease manufacturing operations in the country in April of last year, as well as a decline in agricultural exports – especially pineapple, which saw a decline of 14% in total exports during the first four months of this year compared to the same period in 2014.