JAXPORT Refrigerated Imports From Costa Rica Rise 8%
Refrigerated container imports from Costa Rica through JAXPORT reached US$33.1 million in fiscal year 2026, up 8.18 percent from the prior year.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Organic Food
The value of refrigerated, containerized imports loaded in Costa Rica and entering through the Jacksonville Port Authority grew 8.18 percent in fiscal year 2026, which ended September 30, 2026. The total reached US$33,142,837, compared with US$30,636,714 in fiscal year 2025.
Why it matters
The growth reflects a multi-year expansion in perishable trade between Costa Rica and Jacksonville, with the value up 51.61 percent since fiscal year 2023. Pineapple and banana/plantain cargo accounted for a substantial share of the value, underscoring the port's role in moving fresh produce into the U.S. market.
Pineapple and banana/plantain cargo totaled US$7,936,724, or 23.95 percent of refrigerated import value, according to PIERS data. The HS08 refrigerated category fell 56.81 percent from the prior year to US$7,963,047, while Costa Rica ranked second among seven Central American loading countries with 42.16 percent of the regional total.
The players
Jacksonville Port Authority (JAXPORT)
JAXPORT is the port authority that operates the seaport serving Jacksonville, Florida, and reports the container trade figures cited in this story.
PROCOMER
PROCOMER is Costa Rica's national foreign trade promotion agency, which reported the country's pineapple export growth for January to August 2026.
CADEXCO
CADEXCO is a Costa Rican organization that hosts the Logistics Efficiency Forum in San José, where JAXPORT will participate on November 17.
The details
Refrigerated containers loaded in Costa Rica and discharged at JAXPORT made up the cargo measured in the fiscal year 2026 figures, which exclude Mexico and roll-on/roll-off cargo. Pineapple shipments within the category totaled US$4,832,943, and banana/plantain shipments totaled US$3,103,781.
Timeline
October 1, 2025 to September 30, 2026: JAXPORT fiscal year 2026 measurement period.
January to August 2026: Costa Rica's pineapple exports grew 10 percent, or US$91 million more, according to PROCOMER.
November 16 to 18, 2026: JAXPORT representatives meet in Costa Rica.
November 17, 2026: JAXPORT participates in the 6th Logistics Efficiency Forum of CADEXCO in San José.
Market Landscape
Costa Rica's pineapple exports rose 10 percent, or US$91 million more, between January and August 2026, according to PROCOMER. The growth in refrigerated containerized imports through Jacksonville tracks that same upward movement in tropical fruit shipments.
Households that buy fresh pineapple and bananas may see the continued expansion of Costa Rican produce moving through Jacksonville's port as supply remains steady. The figures are a measure of trade value, so they do not indicate what retail prices will do.
The takeaway
Growth in refrigerated imports from Costa Rica shows how a single port can carry a large share of a country's fresh produce exports. Readers interested in produce supply chains can track how these shipment patterns shift over the coming fiscal years.
What happens next
JAXPORT representatives will meet with Costa Rican officials from November 16 to 18, 2026, and participate in the CADEXCO Logistics Efficiency Forum in San José on November 17, 2026.
Further reading
For more on the produce category behind this trade growth, see Organic Food coverage.
More information
Visit the JAXPORT official website for port information and trade resources.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Freshplaza.
