Posted: Wednesday, September 3, 2025. 12:35 pm CST.
By Aaron Humes: Belize experienced a notable increase in its merchandise imports for July 2025, with total values reaching $266.3 million. This represents a 12.3 percent increase, or $29.1 million, compared to the same month in 2024 when imports were valued at $237.2 million, per the Statistical Institute of Belize.
The rise in imports was primarily fueled by significant growth in several key commodity categories. The ‘Commercial Free Zone’, ‘Machinery and Transport Equipment’, and ‘Food and Live Animals’ sectors led the way in this upward trend.
In the ‘Commercial Free Zone’, imports soared by $14.2 million, jumping from $25.8 million in July 2024 to an impressive $40 million in July 2025. This surge was largely driven by higher import volumes of popular items such as cigarettes, tennis shoes, and jerseys.
The ‘Food and Live Animals’ category also saw substantial growth, with imports rising from $28.2 million to $36.2 million. Notable increases were recorded in the import of wheat, coffee, and poultry feed products, highlighting the growing demand for essential food items.
Furthermore, imports in ‘Machinery and Transport Equipment’ saw a rise of $5.6 million, moving from $54.2 million in July of last year to $59.8 million this July. This increase can be attributed to higher purchases of mini-buses and powered industrial trucks, crucial for expanding infrastructure and transport capabilities.
Other notable increases came from the ‘Manufactured Goods’ category, which rose by $4.2 million due to heightened imports of galvanized steel coils and building cement, and the ‘Other Manufactures’ segment, seeing a similar increase attributed to purchases of electricity meters, gaming machines, and medical equipment.
However, the month was not without its declines. The ‘Mineral Fuels and Lubricants’ category experienced a significant drop of $11.2 million, falling from $44.7 million to $33.5 million, primarily due to decreased imports of diesel and regular fuels. Additionally, the ‘Designated Processing Areas’ saw a contraction of $2 million, dropping from $3.8 million to $1.8 million as purchases of shrimp feed, metal furniture, and glass jars diminished.
Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Belize ~ We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages. Your content is delivered instantly to thousands of users in Belize and abroad! Contact us at mаrkеtіng@brеаkіngbеlіzеnеwѕ.соm or call us at 501-612-0315.
© 2025, BreakingBelizeNews.com. Content is copyrighted and requires written permission for reprinting in online or print media. Theft of content without permission/payment is punishable by law.
The post Belize’s merchandise imports surge in July 2025; key categories show significant growth appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
Posted: Wednesday, September 3, 2025. 12:35 pm CST. By Aaron Humes: Belize experienced a notable increase in its merchandise imports for July 2025, with total values
The post Belize’s merchandise imports surge in July 2025; key categories show significant growth appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.