Puerto Rico trade surplus falls to $4.2B in fiscal ’25
Puerto Rico closed fiscal year 2025 with a $4.28 billion trade surplus, the lowest since 2010, according to the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics.
Annual exports totaled $60.65 billion, a 7.2% drop from the previous fiscal year, while imports reached $56.37 billion, up 4.6%. The surplus shrank 62.8% from the $11.5 billion recorded in 2024.
The trade balance, which measures the gap between exports and imports, peaked at $28.42 billion in 2016 but has been narrowing steadily since.
Monthly, sector trends
The fiscal year recorded eight months of surplus and four of deficit. The largest deficit occurred in April, which the institute attributed to high import levels tied to tariff policies and companies rushing to bring in materials ahead of expected price increases.
Exports remain concentrated, with pharmaceuticals (72.3%) and medical devices (9.6%) making up more than 80% of outbound trade. Imports were more diverse but still led by pharmaceuticals (34.4%), petroleum and coal (6.8%), and motor vehicles (6.5%).
The United States continued as Puerto Rico’s top trade partner, accounting for 68% of exports and 63.5% of imports. Other major partners included Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Singapore and Mexico.
“The 2025 trade surplus, though positive, shows a narrowing margin between exports and imports,” said Dr. Ronald G. Hernández-Maldonado, statistical project manager at the institute. “These results highlight the need to expand the export base and improve competitiveness.”
He noted that reshoring and promoting value-added local production could help reverse the trend. “Despite structural challenges, Puerto Rico retains an export capacity that should be leveraged and expanded,” he said.
The figures come from the institute’s External Trade Interface, available at estadisticas.pr.
