Domestic exports down 18.6 % in July as sugar earnings plunge

By Zoila Palma: Belize’s domestic export earnings fell sharply in July 2026 according to data from the Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB).

The decline was driven primarily by a steep drop in sugar exports. Sugar earnings fell by $18.8 million, from $35.8 million in July 2025 to $17.0 million this year, as exported quantities declined by more than 50 percent.

Citrus products also recorded lower earnings, falling by $2.4 million from $3.5 million to $1.1 million, largely due to reduced exports of orange concentrate.

Molasses earnings dropped from $2.0 million to less than $0.1 million, while marine product revenues declined by $1.3 million to $5.3 million, mainly because of lower lobster tail sales and the absence of shrimp exports in July 2026.

Other declines included red kidney beans, which fell from $0.7 million to $0.5 million, and black-eyed peas, which decreased from $0.2 million to $0.1 million.

Despite the overall downturn, some export categories recorded gains, including bananas, which increased slightly from $6.2 million to $6.3 million, and animal feed, which rose from $0.5 million to $0.7 million due to improved export prices.

Formal cattle exports posted one of the strongest increases, with earnings rising by $1.6 million from $0.9 million in July 2025 to $2.4 million in July 2026.

Crude soybean oil earnings also edged up from $0.7 million to $0.8 million.

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