Belize: Perfil comercial

Foreign Trade in Figures

International trade represents around 107% of the country’s GDP (World Bank, latest data available). Whereas imports from CARICOM (Caribbean Community and Common Market) are exempt from import duties, other countries have to pay relatively high customs taxes: import duties range from 0% to 120%, with an average rate of 20% applied to most goods. Moreover, import licenses are mandatory to protect certain national industries. According to the Statistical Institute of Belize, in 2024, the country’s main exports were sugar (USD 182.3 million), bananas (USD 82.4 million), orange concentrates (USD 30.7 million), molasses (USD 22.6 million), and lobster tails (USD 19.2 million), while imports were led by machinery and transport equipment (21% of total imports), mineral fuels (14.3%), manufactured goods (13.5%), and food and live animalss (11.3%).

The country's main export partners in 2024 were the United Kingdom (BZD 171.2 million, 37.2% of the total), the U.S. (BZD 102.1 million, 22.2%), Trinidad and Tobago (BZD 37.0 million, 8.0%), Ireland (BZD 24.5 million, 5.3%), and Jamaica (BZD 19.6 million, 4.3%). In contrast, imports came chiefly from the U.S. (BZD 1,282.9 million, 44.1%), China (BZD 259.6 million, 8.9%), Mexico (BZD 236.4 million, 8.1%), Guatemala (BZD 234.8 million, 8.1%), and Trinidad & Tobago (BZD 47.6 million, 1.6% - data Statistical Institute of Belize). Despite the discovery of a large oilfield in the northern part of the country, Belize relies on other members of Petrocaribe (primarily Central American countries, Mexico, and Venezuela) for its energy supply. Belize also relies heavily on the U.S., leading to commercial vulnerability due to a lack of diversification. Belize's first National Trade Policy, is aligned with the Government’s development strategies, such as Horizon 2030 and the Growth and Sustainable Development Strategy, and seeks to reduce the cost of doing business, enhance competitiveness, develop efficient production systems and capacities, improve trade performance for goods and services, and diversify production, which should significantly contribute to a competitive economy and sustainable socio-economic development. Foreign trade is subject to fluctuations in global prices of raw materials and depends on the longevity of certain trade agreements, especially with the United States, the European Union (sugar cane), and the United Kingdom (bananas).

Belize's merchandise trade balance is structurally in deficit. According to data by the national Statistical Institute, exports of goods totalled BZD 460.4 million in 2024, up by 12.7% year-on-year, while imports grew at a slower pace (+8.5%), reaching BZD 2.91 billion. Preliminary figures show that merchandise imports from January to May 2025 totalled BZD 1.159 billion, down 6.2% (BZD 76.7 million) from BZD 1.236 billion the previous year. Merchandise exports for the same period fell 2.4% to BZD 161.7 million, a decrease of BZD 4.0 million from BZD 165.6 million.

Main Partner Countries

Source: Comtrade, Latest Available Data

Main Products

Source: Comtrade, Latest Available Data

To go further, check out our service Import Controls and Export Controls

To go further, check out our service Import-Export Flows

Main Services

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, Latest Available Data

List of tariffs and local taxes that apply to your product on our service Customs Duties and Local Taxes

Trade Compliance

International Conventions

Member of the World Trade Organization (WTO)

International Economic Cooperation

Member of Caribbean Common Market (CARICOM)

Member of Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA)

Useful Resources

Belize Customs and Excise Department

National Organisation of Intellectual Property

The BELIPO, Belize Intellectual Property Office .

 

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Latest Update: October 2025