By Belize Live News Staff: The latest trade figures for Belize tell a story that has become all too familiar, more goods coming into the country, and fewer going out.
Speaking at a press conference held by the Statistical Institute of Belize, Statistician Ronald Orellana reported that imports in May 2026 rose by 22.8 percent, while exports fell by 29.5 percent. He noted that imports this year reached a record high for the period, continuing a steady climb that has been in place since they last dipped in 2020.
Over the first five months of 2026, total merchandise imports reached $1.375 billion. That marks an increase of 18.7 percent, or 216.4 million dollars, compared to the same stretch in 2025, a significant jump in the country’s import bill.
Exports, however, moved in the opposite direction. Domestic exports for the first five months of the year totalled $140.6 million, down 13.5 percent, or 21.9 million dollars, from the same period a year earlier.
The contrast between the two figures highlights the widening gap in Belize’s trade balance. A country that imports far more than it exports is left more exposed to outside price shifts and more dependent on foreign goods. The figures serve as a reminder of the importance of building up local industries and finding ways to boost what Belize is able to produce and sell to the world.
For now, the trend remains clear, and reversing it is likely to be one of the longer term challenges facing the economy.
