Decreasing Dependence
Currently, Costa Rican
exports are less
dependent of the U.S.
market than in the
recent past. This is so
because of the increase
in sales to Asian,
Central American and
Caribbean markets.
The sales to the U.S.
went from 47 percent of
the overall sales abroad
in 2003 to 35 percent in
2007, according to data
from the Promoter of
Foreign Trade (PROCOMER
in Spanish).
However, the United
States remains the
leading destination of
Costa Rican exports.
Last year, Costa Rica
sold us$9.34 billion
abroad, 35 percent or
us$3.3 billion of them
to the U.S.
Asia bought 21 percent,
Central America and the
Caribbean another 21
percent, Europe 15
percent and the balance
8 percent went to other
destinations.
The Minister of Foreign
Trade Marco Ruiz said
that it is ideal to
depend less on the U.S.,
but that sales there
must not decrease. |
