Elizabeth Morgan | Jamaica’s declining goods exports: can it be turned around?

T he Gleaner recently had two editorials referring to Jamaica’s increasing trade deficit and declining goods exports as reported by the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN). In 2025, Jamaica imported goods valued at US$7.6 billion and exported goods valued at US$1.7 billion. The goods trade deficit was nearly US$6 billion. This is an increase from 2024. The recent STATIN report for the first five months of 2026 shows that the decline in exports continues.

Since this column started in 2018, it has reviewed the state of Jamaica’s trade in goods and services. It has shown that Jamaica’s traditional goods exports have declined significantly, and those goods for which production has declined have not been replaced in the export markets by goods of equal or greater value.

A comparison

In 1999, Jamaica’s total goods exports were valued at about US$1.4 billion. At today’s value, this would be about US$2.7 billion. Jamaica exported US$158 million to the UK and US$678 million to the USA, the main markets. Products exported were:

. Bananas – US$29.6 million

. Raw cane sugar – US$95.8 million

. Citrus – US$4.6 million

. Cocoa – US$12.8 million

. Coffee – US$24 million

. Rum – US$23 million

. Ethanol – Jamaica exported millions of dollars of ethanol to the USA

. Garments/apparel – US$159 million

. Bauxite and alumina – US$688.1 million

In 2025, Jamaica’s total goods exports were valued at US$1.7 billion. Jamaica exported about US$66 million to the UK and US$379 million to the USA.

Products were:

. Bananas – US$861,000 (fresh and dried)

. Raw cane sugar – US$ 3, 740. No sugar was exported to USA

. Citrus – US$400,000

. Cocoa – US$983,000

. Coffee – US$30.1 million (tea included)

. Rum – US$58 million

. Ethanol – Jamaica ceased to export ethanol from about 2015

. Garments/apparel – US$1.2 million (now a niche market)

. Bauxite and alumina – US$612.3 million

The main exports to the USA in 2025 were petroleum oils (US$308 million), bauxite/alumina, non-traditional agricultural products (yams, sweet potatoes), rum, and sauces and condiments. The exports to the UK, which had been Jamaica’s largest market in the European Union before Brexit, declined considerably.

In looking at this comparison, products such as bananas, sugar, citrus, and cocoa have declined in quantity and value. Production declined. Prices declined for some products. Bauxite and alumina, which were valuable exports, also declined; again, limited production. Exports of garments and apparel shrank with the disappearance of the US 807 programme. The 1999 value lost from all these products has not been replaced by any existing or new products. It does not even appear that agriculture exports can be realistically revived. Sorry to say this during CARICOM Agriculture Week being hosted by Jamaica. Of course, Jamaica is still recovering from Hurricane Melissa and now facing a severe drought and water shortage.

Can it be turned around?

The prospect of increasing Jamaica’s goods exports was raised in this column on August 12, addressing the topic ‘Is increasing exports of goods a realistic prospect for Jamaica?’.

The Gleaner’s editorial ‘Building an export economy’, of September 24, proposes that turning this around could be done through:

1. Bipartisan agreement on a programme of deep industrial transformation;

2. Reducing energy cost through greater competition, expanded investment in renewable energy and improved efficiency;

3. Expanding support for MSMEs; and

4. Developing a value-added strategy for its ports.

Since 2000, several private sector/government strasegies/policies have been proposed for reviving exports. There were two national export Strategies; the revised National Foreign Trade Policy; the National Investment Policy and a National Agricultural Development Plan. There is also the Jamaica Logistics Hub Initiative linked to the Special Economic Zones. There is the MSMEs and Entrepreneurship Policy, a National Energy Policy, and a National Minerals Policy. The 1996 National Industrial Policy was supposed to be revived.

This column is not viewing this matter with optimism. The problem in Jamaica is not the want of policies, plans, and strategies. The problem is the lack of implementation, consistency, and commitment.

The decline in goods exports may now have gone so far that it could be quite challenging to revive this sector, especially in the current economic, environmental, and geopolitical milieu.

Elizabeth Morgan is a specialist in international trade policy and international politics. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com.