Caribbean & Central America - January 2026

COSTA RICA | Rise in FDI. On 5 January Costa Rica’s central bank (BCCR) released new figures showing that Costa Rica registered US$3.53bn in foreign direct investment (FDI) for the first three quarters of 2025, up 4.5% on the same period in 2024, according to a statement by the foreign trade ministry (Comex). According to the Comex statement, reinvested profits accounted for US$3.12bn, which Comex highlights is the highest level ever recorded for that period. According to the statement, over 80% (US$2.86bn) of FDI inflows went to manufacturing, while US$40m went to agriculture. The US was the main source of FDI, accounting for 54% of the total.

PANAMA | Canal contributions. On 17 December the Panama Canal Authority announced that it had handed over US$2.97bn to state coffers which it said represents “surpluses gained from operations, transit tonnage fees, and payments for public services provided by the state”. An ACP statement notes the contributions reflect the “interoceanic waterway’s outstanding performance during FY2025, marked by a return to normal lake levels, which allowed for a draft of 50 feet to be maintained even during the dry season”. It states that during FY2025, daily transits averaged 33 compared to 27 registered during FY2024 which was impacted by the El Niño weather phenomenon. In October the ACP reported total revenues of US$5.71bn for fiscal year (FY) 2025, up 14.4% on the US$4.99bn recorded in FY 2024. The October ACP report highlights that for FY2025, the Panama Canal achieved a net profit of US$4.13bn, up US$372m on budget projections, and up US$695m on the net profit registered in FY2024.

Central America & Caribbean: inflation rate
Percentage variation (year-on-year)

Central America & Caribbean: GDP growth (%)
Quarterly figures are year-on-year growth