SIB Says Export Drop Is Short-Term and Sugar-Related

Belize’s exports to the United States fell sharply in the second quarter of 2025, according to the Statistical Institute of Belize. Total exports dropped by 28.7 million dollars, which reflects a more than 35% decline from the previous period.

Exports to the U.K. and CARICOM also fell, but by less than 5%.

U.S. President Trump imposed new tariffs earlier this year on all countries exporting to the country. Belize was hit with a 10% tariff, which came into effect late in the second quarter.

Director General of SIB, Diana Castillo, said that the largest decline came from sugar exports. She said the drop was largely due to changes in the timing of shipments and lower global sugar prices.

She added it is too early to say if the decrease signals a long-term problem for Belizean exports.

“This was due largely to decreased earnings from molasses and lower export quantities of sugar to this country,” Statistician II Ronald Orellana added. “Export revenues from the United Kingdom saw a decrease of 2.6 million… Likewise, earnings from Caricom fell…due mainly to decreased exports of sugar.”

Both officials affirmed that the figures reflect short-term fluctuations rather than an immediate crisis in trade.