From garlic to gadgets: What Belize buys most from China

Posted: Friday, October 24, 2025. 9:50 am CST.

By Zoila Palma:  Over the last few years, Belize’s trade relationship with China has deepened and new data from the Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB) shows just how far-reaching that dependence has become — from basic household items to major consumer goods.

Between 2020 and 2024, Belize imported nearly BZ$500 million worth of goods from China, more than double the value imported just four years earlier.

The data reveals that Chinese-made products are now a central part of Belizean daily life — spanning food, fashion, transportation, and technology.

At the top of the import list are cigarettes, with Belize spending an estimated BZ$219 million on tobacco products from China over the five-year period.

In second place are athletic shoes — including tennis, basketball, and training shoes — valued at roughly BZ$192 million, followed by jerseys, pullovers, and cardigans, totaling more than BZ$105 million.

The list continues with a mix of consumer and industrial goods, including plastic-based outerwear (BZ$67 million), men’s undergarments (BZ$50 million), and rubber tires (BZ$39 million).

Belize also spent millions on leather footwear (BZ$38 million), motorcycles and mopeds (BZ$30 million), cosmetics and toiletries (BZ$30 million), and herbicides (BZ$24 million).

While smaller agricultural imports such as garlic and dried mushrooms continue to flow from China, the trend has clearly shifted toward higher-value manufactured goods. Retailers across Belize increasingly depend on Chinese suppliers to stock clothing, electronics, and household goods at competitive prices.

However, this growing dependency raises questions about economic vulnerability.

Disruptions in global shipping or changes in China’s export policies could significantly affect Belizean markets, especially as local industries struggle to compete with cheaper imports.

In addition, this data from the SIB reveals a complex trade reality: Belize’s consumption habits are deeply tied to China’s manufacturing power — a connection that shows no sign of slowing.

 

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The post From garlic to gadgets: What Belize buys most from China appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.

Posted: Friday, October 24, 2025. 9:50 am CST. By Zoila Palma:  Over the last few years, Belize’s trade relationship with China has deepened and new data
The post From garlic to gadgets: What Belize buys most from China appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.