News
JAM | May 28, 2026

Jamaica spending on imports drops; so too did earnings from exports

/ Our Today

administrator
Reading Time: 2 minutes

Both Jamaica’s total spending on imports and earnings from exports declined but the contraction in exports was more severe than the contraction in imports.

The latest International Merchandise Trade (IMT) Bulletin shows Jamaica’s total spending on imports for January 2026 was valued at US$573.1 million, representing an 11.5 per cent decline down from the US$647.6 million recorded in January 2025. 

The decrease was mainly driven by lower imports of Raw Materials/Intermediate Goods (-12.3%), Consumer Goods (-10.9 %) and Fuels and Lubricants (-30.7 %).

Earnings from total exports for January 2026 were valued at US$114.8 million, representing a 14.4 per cent decline from the US$134.1 million earned in January 2025. 

The IMT for January 2026, published by the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) shows that this movement was driven by a 34.9 per cent fall in the value of Crude Materials (Excl. Fuels).

Main Trading Partners

The five main trading partners for the period were the United States of America (USA), China, Brazil, Japan, Trinidad and Tobago and Germany. Expenditure on imports of goods from these countries amounted to US$379.0 million, a 0.3 per cent increase when compared to US$378.0 million spent in 2025.

The top five destinations for Jamaica’s exports were the USA, the Russian Federation, Trinidad and Tobago, Cayman Islands and Singapore. Revenue from exports to these countries declined by 3.1 per cent to US$94.2 million in January 2026.

Tags
International Merchandise TRade STATIN Statistical Insitute of Jamaica Wayne Henry

Comments

What To Read Next

News May 28, 2026

Prime Minister Holness lauds JCF as region’s most tactically advanced

Reading Time: 2 minutesPrime Minister Andrew Holness has praised the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s (JCF’s) growing operational capabilities and regional leadership, declaring that the organisation now possesses “the most advanced tactical teams in this region” during a graduation ceremony at the National Police College of Jamaica.

 “I speak without fear of contradiction that the JCF has the most advanced tactical teams in this region. There is no question about that,” Mr Holness said while addressing the graduation exercise for the 91st Staff and Junior Command Course on Friday, May 22.
News May 28, 2026

CARICOM foreign ministers condemn intensified US measures against Cuba

Reading Time: 2 minutesForeign affairs ministers from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) on Wednesday voiced “profound concern” over what they described as escalating economic, commercial, and financial measures imposed on Cuba by the United States.

However, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago reserved their positions from the collective statement issued by the CARICOM Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR).