The Central Bank of Nicaragua published its external trade report and statistics for the third quarter of 2025, reporting that total exports of goods and free trade zone output reached USD 2,372.6 million, up 22.4% year on year, while the trade deficit narrowed versus the same quarter of 2024. Goods exports accounted for 58.5% of Q3 exports (USD 1,387.1 million) and rose 40.3% year on year, while free trade zone exports made up 41.5% (USD 985.5 million) and increased 3.7%. Cumulatively through September, total exports were USD 6,813.9 million, up 15.8%, driven by higher goods exports (+27.6%) and a smaller rise in free trade zone exports (+1.6%). Within goods exports, growth was led by mining (+49.2%) and agricultural exports (+43.1%), with manufacturing up 4.3%; free trade zone gains reflected higher shipments of harnesses (+7.6%), textiles (+2.3%), and fruit and vegetables (+13.0%), partly offset by declines in processed fish products (-37.3%) and palm oil (-23.5%). Total imports (goods plus free trade zone inputs) reached USD 8,515.6 million FOB through September, up 6.2%, reflecting higher goods imports (+7.1%) and higher imports of raw materials for free trade zone industries (+2.9%). The increase in goods imports was driven by capital goods (+24.2%), consumer goods (+7.4%) and intermediate goods (+8.5%), partly offset by lower purchases of petroleum and derivatives (-10.4%). On this basis, the Q3 trade deficit was USD 518.3 million, 31.9% lower than in Q3 2024, and the cumulative deficit through September was USD 1,701.7 million, down 20.2% year on year.

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