KINGSTON, Jamaica – Jamaica’s trade deficit widened during the period January to November 2025.
According to new data released by the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN), spending on imports continued to outpace earnings on exports, based on Total imports over the review period were valued at approximately US$6.8 billion. Export earnings, meanwhile, came in at about US$1.5 billion.
This represents a 2.2 per cent increase in imports compared to the corresponding period in 2024.
STATIN says the growth was largely driven by higher spending on raw material and intermediate goods, which rose by 9.3 per cent, along with a 5.4 per cent increase in consumer goods imports. In contrast, export earnings declined by 11 per cent when compared to the US$1.7 billion earned in the similar period in 2024.
The downturn was primarily attributed to a 14.6 per cent reduction in the value of crude materials.
STATIN reports that Jamaica’s top five trading partners during the period were the United States, China, Brazil, Japan and Trinidad and Tobago.
Combined imports from these countries was about US$4.2 billion, reflecting a 4.7 per cent increase over 2024.
On the export side, the island’s main markets were the United States, the Russian Federation, Iceland, Canada and the Netherlands.
