Exporting from
Costa Rica to the USA

The United States: the natural destination for Costa Rican exporters

By proximity, market size and trade framework, the United States is the export destination with the least friction from Costa Rica: ocean transit to the East Coast is measured in days, there is direct air connectivity, and CAFTA-DR sets the rules for trade between both countries.

The same infrastructure we use to bring cargo in from the US runs in reverse. If you already import from the United States with us, exporting there is the same lane with the direction flipped.

For US buyers sourcing from Costa Rica, that also means a single counterpart handling the origin side — pickup, export formalities and documentation — instead of coordinating it from abroad.

Export options

• Ocean FCL: full container for volumes that justify it. Lowest cost per unit.
• Ocean LCL: consolidated cargo for shipments under a full container.
• Reefer containers and cold chain: temperature control for perishable products.
• Air freight: for short-shelf-life perishables, samples and high-value goods.
• Courier: commercial samples and small shipments to clients.

Transit times to the United States

• Costa Rica → East Coast (Miami, Houston, New York): 8–12 days
• Costa Rica → West Coast (Los Angeles, Long Beach): 14–20 days
• By air: transit in hours or a few days, depending on schedule.

* Port-to-port transit. Add pickup in Costa Rica, export formalities and clearance at destination. Exact dates are confirmed against the schedule when quoting.

Perishables: where the cold chain defines the business

With fresh produce, logistics is the product: one temperature break or a few extra days in transit and the cargo arrives with no commercial value. For perishable exports we coordinate refrigerated containers (reefer) and temperature-controlled air freight.

What we define at quoting time:

• The exact temperature range the product requires.
• Ventilation and humidity, depending on whether it's respiring fruit, flowers or frozen product.
• Maximum transit time the product tolerates — which sometimes forces air over ocean.
• Pre-cooling and load coordination so the chain isn't broken at stuffing.

CAFTA-DR: the agreement works both ways

CAFTA-DR is reciprocal. Just as it can lower duties on what you import from the US, it can grant preferential tariff treatment to your Costa Rican goods entering the United States — provided they qualify as originating and the corresponding certification is supplied.

For the exporter that's a concrete competitive edge over origins without an agreement. What the certification is and how it works is covered in certificates of origin: what they're for.

* The benefit depends on each product's tariff classification and on meeting the rules of origin. Confirm it with your customs broker and with PROCOMER before closing the deal.

Export documentation

• Registration as an exporter with the Costa Rican authorities.
• Commercial invoice and packing list — see what the invoice must contain.
• Export customs declaration.
• Transport document: Bill of Lading or air waybill.
• Certification of origin when claiming CAFTA-DR preferential treatment.
• Product-specific certifications — agricultural and food products usually require additional sanitary or phytosanitary permits.

* Exact requirements depend on the product and on current regulations in both countries. PROCOMER is the official starting point for Costa Rican exporters; US entry requirements are confirmed by the importer or the customs broker at destination.

What we need to quote

• Product to export and its presentation.
• Pickup address in Costa Rica.
• Destination in the United States: port, city or buyer's address.
• Weight, total or per package.
• Dimensions or pallet count.
• Does it require temperature control? And if so, the exact range.
• Incoterm agreed with your buyer.
• Value of the goods, for insurance and formalities.