Costa Rica Current Account Deficit Widens to US$239.8 Million as Imports Outpace Exports
Costa Rica current account deficit rose to US$239.8 million in Q2 2026 as imports outpaced exports, but investment inflows more than covered the gap. The post Costa Rica Current Account Deficit Widens to US$239.8 Million as Imports Outpace Exports appeared first on The Rio Times .
Costa Rica's current account deficit expanded to US$239.8 million in the second quarter of 2026, according to the Central Bank of Costa Rica (BCCR). This gap is the widest since late 2024 and larger than the first quarter's US$141.2 million deficit. The primary cause is a surge in goods imports, which increased by 12.3% year-on-year to US$6.86 billion.
Simultaneously, goods exports grew by 6.8% to US$6.44 billion. The goods deficit ballooned to US$426.0 million from US$82.4 million a year ago. While services posted a surplus of US$2.41 billion, the largest outflow was primary income, amounting to US$2.41 billion, driven by interest and profit payments to foreign owners, along with US$2.22 billion from income related to foreign direct investment.
Remittances from Costa Ricans abroad rose to US$230.4 million. The stronger colón, trading near ¢456.6 per US dollar, has helped contain prices, benefiting households. However, exporters face higher costs as their dollar revenue converts to fewer colones. The BCCR expects the 2026-2027 deficit to be 0.7 percentage points of GDP wider than the previous year, with long-term foreign financing likely covering the gap.
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