Jamaica’s imports for the first half of 2026 rose 4%, as exports went south, further worsening the country’s trade imbalance.

Jamaica’s total spending on imports was valued at US$3.92 billion, while earnings from total exports were valued at US$817.8 million, according to the latest International Merchandise Trade Bulletin, released yesterday by the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN).

The value of imports increased by 4.0 per cent compared to US$3.77 billion earned in the corresponding 2025 period. This increase was driven by higher expenditure on Raw Materials/Intermediate Goods and Fuels and Lubricants, which grew by 4.7 per cent and 6.7 per cent, respectively.

Total exports for the first six months of 2026 was 7.7 per cent lower than the US$885.7 million earned in the similar 2025 review period. This decrease was primarily due to a 43.0 per cent reduction in the export value of Crude Materials (Excl. Fuels).

Main Trading Partners

The five main import trading partners for the first half of 2026 were the United States of America, China, Colombia, Japan and Trinidad and Tobago. Expenditure on imports of goods from these countries amounted to US$2.59 billion, reflecting an increase of 18.3 per cent compared to the US$2.195 billion recorded in January to June 2025.

The top five destinations for Jamaica’s exports were the USA, the Russian Federation, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Canada. Export revenues from these countries rose by 2.1 per cent to US$595.9 million, up from US$583.7 million earned in 2025.