Occupying the largest land area on the Central American isthmus between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, the Republic of Nicaragua recorded US$7.52 billion in Nicaraguan exports in 2024 to markets around the globe.

This total reflects a 47.9% surge from the $5.1 billion achieved in 2020, although the pace of growth slowed year-on-year to 1.9% compared with $7.38 billion in 2023.

Exchange rate data for 2024 shows that the Nicaraguan córdoba strengthened by 6.6% against the US dollar over the past five years, and by 0.6% compared with 2023. While a stronger currency signals economic resilience, it also makes Nicaraguan exports priced in US dollars relatively costlier for overseas buyers using the American currency.

Key Overseas Markets for Nicaraguan Exports

Recent trade figures indicate that 91.4% of Nicaraguan exports went to the following top destinations: the United States (48.2%), Mexico (13.1%), Canada (7.2%), El Salvador (6.3%), Honduras (5.5%), Costa Rica (3%), Guatemala (2.2%), Belgium (1.8%), Panama (1.2%), China (1.1%), United Kingdom (1%), and Switzerland (0.8%).

From a regional perspective, North America absorbed 68.6% of the total value of Nicaraguan exports, while Latin America and the Caribbean (excluding Mexico) purchased 20.5%. Europe accounted for 7.2%, followed by Asia (3.1%), Africa (0.5%), and Oceania (0.2%), led by Australia and New Zealand.

With a population of approximately 6.93 million, Nicaragua's 2024 export revenue equals about US$1,100 per person, the same per-capita value as in 2023.

Top 10 Export Categories for Nicaraguan Exports

The following were Nicaragua's highest-value export categories in 2024, along with their percentage share of the country's total global shipments:

1. Knit or crochet clothing and accessories – US$1.5 billion (19.9%)

2. Gems and precious metals – $1.4 billion (18.5%)

3. Meat – $791.1 million (10.5%)

4. Electrical machinery and equipment – $779.3 million (10.4%)

5. Coffee, tea, and spices – $527.5 million (7%)

6. Tobacco and substitutes – $473.8 million (6.3%)

7. Sugar and sugar confectionery – $282.6 million (3.8%)

8. Fish – $245.9 million (3.3%)

9. Non-knitted apparel and accessories – $240.8 million (3.2%)

10. Dairy products, eggs, and honey – $239.9 million (3.2%)

Together, these 10 product groups accounted for 86% of Nicaraguan exports in 2024.

Among them, sugar (including confectionery) saw the fastest growth at +22.6% from 2023 to 2024. Gems and precious metals followed with a 20% rise, driven mainly by higher gold sales. Meat exports ranked third with a 10% increase. In contrast, non-knitted apparel and accessories experienced the steepest drop at -26.4% year-over-year.

Leading Individual Products within Nicaraguan Exports

At the more detailed four-digit HS code level, Nicaragua's most valuable single export in 2024 was unwrought gold, representing 18% of total Nicaraguan exports. This was followed by knitted or crocheted T-shirts and vests (12.9%), insulated wire or cable (10.3%), coffee (7%), fresh or chilled beef (5.8%), cigars/cigarillos/cigarettes (5.8%), frozen beef (4.2%), knitted jerseys or pullovers (3.4%), sugar (3.2%), and cheese or curd (2.8%).

Finding Buyers for Nicaraguan Exports

For companies looking to tap into opportunities in Nicaraguan exports, identifying buyers and importers is essential. Using Tendata's trade intelligence tools—such as keyword searches, HS code filters, and buyer databases—exporters can locate thousands of verified leads in minutes, complete with purchase histories, procurement cycles, and decision-maker contact details, saving valuable time in market development.

For example, in the PVC sector alone, Tendata's data reveals the top 10 Nicaraguan exporters for 2024. >> Explore more Nicaraguan buyers

1.EURO ARREDO SOCIEDAD ANONIMA(53.18%)

2.YAZAKI DE NICARAGUA SOCIEDAD ANONIM(28.58%)

3.MEXICHEM NICARAGUA S A(5.89%)

4.JULIO CESAR OZUNA GOMEZ(2.35%)

5.EL ARTESANO SOCIEDAD ANONIMA EL ARTESANO S A(2.14%)

6.NETAFIM NICARAGUA SOCIEDAD ANONIMA(1.4%)

7.ALEJANDRO ENRIQUE CALERO ROSALES(1.34%)

8.COMERCIALIZADORA Y DISTRIBUIDORA N(0.7%)

9.NAUFFAR GERMANY DOORS AND WINDOWS SOCIEDAD ANONIMA(0.59%)

10.FILEMON ANTONIO MUNGUIA PEREZ(0.53%)

Whether you are an experienced exporter or new to international trade, using trade data on Nicaraguan exports can help uncover valuable market opportunities. For inquiries about Nicaragua import or export statistics, contact Tendata to arrange a free online demonstration.