Durrant Pate/Contributor

For the period January to May 2026, Jamaica’s total spending on imports was almost five times that of exports, further worsening Jamaica’s trade deficit.

For the period, imports were valued at US$3.21 billion, while earnings from total exports were valued at just US$674.7 million, according to the latest International Merchandise Trade Bulletin, as released by the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN). 

The information showed that the value of imports increased by 1.8 per cent compared to US$3.16 billion earned in the corresponding 2025 period. This increase was driven by higher expenditure on Raw Materials /Intermediate Goods and Capital Goods (excl. Motor Cars) and Transport Equipment, which grew by 5.2 per cent, 7.4 per cent and 6.6 per cent, respectively. 

Total exports for the January to May 2026 period was 12.5 per cent lower than the US$770.9 million earned in the similar 2025 review period. This decrease was primarily due to a 44.3 per cent reduction in the export value of Crude Materials (Excl. Fuels). 

Main Trading Partners

The five main import trading partners for the period January to May 2026 were the United States of America (USA), China, Japan, Colombia and Brazil. Expenditure on imports of goods from these countries amounted to US$2.15 billion, reflecting an increase of 14.3 per cent compared to the US$1.88 billion recorded in 2025. 

The top five destinations for Jamaica’s exports were the USA, the Russian Federation, the Netherlands, Canada and the United Kingdom. Export revenues from these countries fell by 0.5 per cent to US$507.0 million, down from US$509.6 million earned in 2025.