Costa Rica: Playing Cards Market 2024

Playing Cards Market Size in Costa Rica

The Costa Rican playing cards market contracted markedly to $X in 2022, shrinking by -20.4% against the previous year. This figure reflects the total revenues of producers and importers (excluding logistics costs, retail marketing costs, and retailers' margins, which will be included in the final consumer price). In general, consumption, however, enjoyed buoyant growth. As a result, consumption attained the peak level of $X, and then dropped rapidly in the following year.

Playing Cards Exports

Exports from Costa Rica

In 2022, approx. X kg of playing cards were exported from Costa Rica; waning by -50.6% on the previous year. Overall, exports, however, recorded moderate growth. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2013 with an increase of 884% against the previous year. As a result, the exports attained the peak of X tons. From 2014 to 2022, the growth of the exports failed to regain momentum.

In value terms, playing cards exports dropped markedly to $X in 2022. In general, exports, however, continue to indicate a buoyant expansion. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2013 when exports increased by 1,419%. As a result, the exports attained the peak of $X. From 2014 to 2022, the growth of the exports remained at a lower figure.

Exports by Country

South Korea (X kg) was the main destination for playing cards exports from Costa Rica, with a 56% share of total exports. Moreover, playing cards exports to South Korea exceeded the volume sent to the second major destination, El Salvador (X kg), fourfold. Nicaragua (X kg) ranked third in terms of total exports with a 12% share.

From 2012 to 2022, the average annual rate of growth in terms of volume to South Korea stood at +20.0%. Exports to the other major destinations recorded the following average annual rates of exports growth: El Salvador (+6.8% per year) and Nicaragua (+37.4% per year).

In value terms, the largest markets for playing cards exported from Costa Rica were South Korea ($X), El Salvador ($X) and Nicaragua ($X), together comprising 88% of total exports.

In terms of the main countries of destination, South Korea, with a CAGR of +107.4%, recorded the highest growth rate of the value of exports, over the period under review, while shipments for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Export Prices by Country

In 2022, the average playing cards export price amounted to $X per ton, surging by 13% against the previous year. In general, the export price recorded a resilient increase. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2020 an increase of 106%. The export price peaked in 2022 and is likely to see steady growth in the immediate term.

Prices varied noticeably by country of destination: amid the top suppliers, the country with the highest price was El Salvador ($X per ton), while the average price for exports to the United States ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was recorded for supplies to Italy (+122.8%), while the prices for the other major destinations experienced more modest paces of growth.

Playing Cards Imports

Imports into Costa Rica

In 2022, approx. X tons of playing cards were imported into Costa Rica; reducing by -20.6% compared with the year before. Overall, total imports indicated mild growth from 2012 to 2022: its volume increased at an average annual rate of +1.3% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2022 figures, imports increased by +22.1% against 2020 indices. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2021 when imports increased by 54%. As a result, imports attained the peak of X tons, and then fell rapidly in the following year.

In value terms, playing cards imports declined dramatically to $X in 2022. In general, imports, however, recorded a resilient expansion. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2021 with an increase of 70% against the previous year. As a result, imports reached the peak of $X, and then dropped notably in the following year.

Imports by Country

In 2022, China (X tons) constituted the largest supplier of playing cards to Costa Rica, accounting for a 67% share of total imports. Moreover, playing cards imports from China exceeded the figures recorded by the second-largest supplier, the United States (X tons), fourfold. Spain (X tons) ranked third in terms of total imports with a 4.1% share.

From 2012 to 2022, the average annual growth rate of volume from China amounted to +1.0%. The remaining supplying countries recorded the following average annual rates of imports growth: the United States (-1.3% per year) and Spain (+4.9% per year).

In value terms, the largest playing cards suppliers to Costa Rica were China ($X), the United States ($X) and Spain ($X), with a combined 87% share of total imports. Panama, Mexico, Taiwan (Chinese) and Italy lagged somewhat behind, together comprising a further 9.2%.

Among the main suppliers, Italy, with a CAGR of +104.1%, recorded the highest rates of growth with regard to the value of imports, over the period under review, while purchases for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Import Prices by Country

In 2022, the average playing cards import price amounted to $X per ton, remaining constant against the previous year. In general, import price indicated a prominent expansion from 2012 to 2022: its price increased at an average annual rate of +7.3% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2022 figures, playing cards import price increased by +66.1% against 2018 indices. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2019 when the average import price increased by 49% against the previous year. The import price peaked in 2022 and is expected to retain growth in the immediate term.

Prices varied noticeably by country of origin: amid the top importers, the country with the highest price was Spain ($X per ton), while the price for Italy ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Panama (+19.9%), while the prices for the other major suppliers experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Platform