Costa Rica Free Trade Zone Output Growth Slumps to 1.4% in July 2026

Costa Rica's free trade zone manufacturing output grew only 1.4% year-on-year in July 2026, a sharp deceleration from 17% growth in the same month last year, according to the central bank's IMAE index. The slowdown is driven by weaker production in medical devices and metallic products, signaling a potential drag on national productivity and export growth. The data suggests a cooling in the country's key export sectors, which may weigh on economic growth prospects.