Caribbean Agriculture Exports 2025: $4.2B Trade Data — Crops, Commodities & Food Security
Caribbean agricultural exports represent a $4.2 billion industry that remains central to the region's economic identity, rural livelihoods, and food sovereignty aspirations. From Dominican sugar and Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee to Guyanese rice and Belizean citrus, the Caribbean's agricultural output faces a paradox: exporting billions in commodities while importing 85% of its food at a cost of over $6 billion annually.
Caribbean Agriculture Trade Snapshot
$4.2B
Total agricultural exports
$6B+
Annual food imports
85%
Food import dependency
7
Major export commodities
Top Agricultural Exports by Commodity
Caribbean agricultural exports are concentrated across seven major commodity categories, with sugar dominating total value. The following table presents 2025 export data including key producing nations and growth trends.
| Commodity | Export Value | Key Producers | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sugar | $1.2B | DR, Guyana, Jamaica, Belize | Stable |
| Bananas | $680M | DR, Jamaica, Belize, St. Lucia | Declining |
| Seafood | $520M | Bahamas, Jamaica, Guyana, T&T | Growing |
| Citrus | $420M | Belize, Jamaica, DR | Stable |
| Cocoa | $380M | DR, Grenada, Trinidad | Growing |
| Coffee | $290M | Jamaica, DR, Haiti, Cuba | Growing |
| Spices | $240M | Grenada, Jamaica, Trinidad | Growing |
| Other | $470M | Various | Mixed |
Caribbean Agricultural Exports by Product ($M USD)
Sources: FAO Caribbean Trade Data 2025 | CARICOM Agricultural Statistics | Caribbean Development Bank
Top Exporting Countries
Agricultural export capacity is concentrated in a handful of Caribbean nations with the land area, infrastructure, and trade relationships to sustain commercial-scale production:
| Country | Ag Export Value | Top Exports | % of GDP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dominican Republic | $1.8B | Sugar, cocoa, tobacco, bananas | 5.8% |
| Jamaica | $620M | Coffee, sugar, spices, rum inputs | 6.2% |
| Guyana | $580M | Rice, sugar, seafood, timber | 8.4% |
| Belize | $420M | Sugar, citrus, bananas, marine products | 12.1% |
| Trinidad & Tobago | $280M | Cocoa, coffee, processed foods | 1.2% |
Caribbean Agricultural Trade Balance by Country ($M USD)
Sources: FAO Caribbean 2025 | CARICOM Trade Data | World Bank
Trade Agreements & Market Access
Caribbean agricultural exports benefit from several preferential trade arrangements that shape market access and competitiveness:
- CARICOM Single Market: Free movement of agricultural goods among 15 member states, reducing intra-regional trade barriers
- EU-CARIFORUM EPA: Duty-free access for most Caribbean agricultural exports to EU markets, critical for banana and sugar exporters
- CBERA (Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act): Preferential US market access for Caribbean agricultural products
- CARIBCAN: Canadian preferential tariff arrangements for Caribbean agricultural imports
- Bilateral agreements: Individual country agreements with major trading partners
The Food Import Dependency Paradox
Despite a rich agricultural tradition and $4.2 billion in agricultural exports, the Caribbean imports approximately 85% of its food at a cost exceeding $6 billion annually. This paradox creates significant vulnerability:
- Export-oriented production: Best agricultural land dedicated to export crops (sugar, bananas) rather than food crops
- Colonial legacy: Plantation economies structured for commodity export, not domestic food production
- Consumer preferences: Growing demand for imported processed foods and wheat-based products
- Scale limitations: Small island geographies limiting agricultural economies of scale
- Tourism competition: Hospitality industry importing food to meet international guest expectations
Food Import Dependency by Country
Organic & Specialty Premium Opportunities
Caribbean agricultural products are increasingly positioned for premium markets through organic certification, fair trade programs, and specialty designations:
- Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee: GI-protected, commanding $40-$80/lb vs $3-$5/lb commodity coffee
- Grenada organic cocoa: Single-origin premium chocolate commanding 200-300% price premium
- DR organic bananas: 35% of exports now certified organic, premium of 15-25% over conventional
- Caribbean organic spices: Nutmeg, allspice, and turmeric gaining traction in health-conscious markets
Climate Change Threats
Climate change poses existential threats to Caribbean agriculture across multiple dimensions:
- Hurricane intensity: Category 4-5 storms increasing in frequency, devastating crop cycles
- Rising temperatures: Heat stress reducing yields for cocoa, coffee, and bananas
- Sea-level rise: Coastal farmland inundation and saltwater intrusion into irrigation aquifers
- Rainfall variability: Extended droughts alternating with flooding events
- Pest migration: New pest and disease vectors expanding into Caribbean growing zones
Value-Added Processing Opportunities
Moving up the value chain from raw commodity exports to processed products represents a major growth opportunity for Caribbean agriculture:
- Chocolate manufacturing: DR and Grenada developing bean-to-bar production (+45% value premium)
- Specialty coffee roasting: Jamaica expanding roasted coffee exports vs green bean exports
- Hot sauce & condiments: Trinidad, Jamaica expanding branded pepper sauce exports
- Frozen tropical fruits: Processed fruit for foodservice and retail in export markets
- Essential oils: Extracting high-value oils from spices and botanicals
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total value of Caribbean agricultural exports?
Caribbean agricultural exports total approximately $4.2 billion annually. The largest categories are sugar ($1.2B), bananas ($680M), seafood ($520M), citrus ($420M), cocoa ($380M), coffee ($290M), spices ($240M), and other agricultural products ($470M).
Which Caribbean countries are the largest agricultural exporters?
The Dominican Republic is the largest Caribbean agricultural exporter, followed by Jamaica, Guyana, Belize, and Trinidad & Tobago. The DR leads in sugar, cocoa, and tobacco exports, while Jamaica dominates in coffee and spices, and Guyana leads in rice and sugar production.
How dependent is the Caribbean on food imports?
Despite its agricultural tradition, the Caribbean imports approximately 85% of its food, spending over $6 billion annually on food imports. This food import dependency paradox makes the region highly vulnerable to global supply chain disruptions, price shocks, and currency fluctuations.
How does climate change threaten Caribbean agriculture?
Climate change poses severe threats through increased hurricane intensity and frequency, rising temperatures affecting crop yields, sea-level rise impacting coastal farmland, changing rainfall patterns causing droughts and flooding, and saltwater intrusion into freshwater aquifers used for irrigation.
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