By Aaron Humes: The Statistical Institute of Belize reports that Belize’s trade landscape experienced a notable shift in January 2026. The country’s total imports of goods surged to $271.0 million, an 11.7 percent increase, or an additional $28.5 million, compared to the same period last year.
A major contributor to this upward trend was the category of ‘Machinery and Transport Equipment,’ which saw imports rise significantly from $61.6 million to $76.1 million. This increase is largely attributed to the acquisition of new production machinery to bolster local manufacturing capabilities. The Commercial Free Zone reported a $5.4 million increase in goods, totaling $35.9 million, as demand surged for popular apparel items like jerseys and T-shirts, along with tennis shoes.
Meanwhile, the ‘Chemical Products’ category also experienced growth, with imports rising by $3.4 million to reach $24.7 million, fueled by increased purchases of fertilizers. The ‘Beverages and Tobacco’ sector saw imports increase from $7.1 million to $10.4 million, thanks to higher cigarette imports.
Other categories showing positive trends included ‘Crude Materials,’ which grew by $3.0 million largely due to the importation of pasture grass seeds, and ‘Other Manufactures,’ which climbed by $1.0 million with heightened purchases of prefabricated steel structures. The ‘Food and Live Animals’ sector saw a modest increase of $0.5 million, mainly driven by higher imports of wheat, shortening, and coffee. Imports into the ‘Designated Processing Areas’ also rose, from $2.5 million to $3.0 million, as the demand for industrial boiler pressure parts grew.
Conversely, the report highlighted a decline in imports of ‘Manufactured Goods,’ which fell by $2.7 million from $36.0 million to $33.3 million. This downturn was particularly noted in commodities such as galvanized steel coils and strips.
The post Belize imports $28.5 million more in goods at start of 2026 appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Aaron Humes: The Statistical Institute of Belize reports that Belize’s trade landscape experienced a notable shift in January 2026. The country’s total imports of goods surged to $271.0 million, an 11.7 percent increase, or an additional $28.5 million, compared to the same period last year. A major contributor to this upward trend was the
The post Belize imports $28.5 million more in goods at start of 2026 appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
