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Free Trade Agreements


PLASTICS INDUSTRY TRADE WITH THE CAFTA-DR MARKETS: A SNAPSHOT OF 2004

  • In 2004, the U.S. plastics industry enjoyed a $ 715 million trade surplus with the CAFTA-DR region.

    • Region-Wide Exports

  • U.S. plastics exports to the CAFTA-DR markets totaled $894.50 million. This was an 8.8% increase from export volumes in 2003 ($821.85 million).


  • Exports by segment were as follows: resins/polymers ($485 million), plastics products ($386 million), plastics machinery ($1.9 million), molds ($9.8 million).

    • Country-Specific Exports

  • Costa Rica ($265.90 million) and the Dominican Republic ($235.50 million) were the two largest markets for plastics exports.


  • Exports of resins/polymers and plastics products and made up the lionshare of U.S. plastics exports to Costa Rica. Resin exports were valued at $131 million (49% of plastics exports). Plastics product exports were valued at $119 million (45% of plastic exports). Together, these products ranked as the third largest category of total U.S. exports to Costa Rica.


  • Exports of resins/polymers and plastics products also accounted for the vast majority of U.S. plastics exports to the Dominican Republic. Plastics product exports were valued at $130 million (55%), and resin exports were valued at $99.8 million (43%). Together, these products ranked as the fifth largest category of total U.S. exports to the Dominican Republic.

    • Region-Wide Imports

  • Plastics imports from the six CAFTA-DR markets were worth $179.40 million, only 1% of total imports into the U.S. market.


  • The Dominican Republic was by far the largest source of plastics imports. Dominican Republic imports were valued at $119 million. Costa Rica was second with imports valued at $40.90 million.


  • Plastics products accounted for the majority of all imports at $173 million.

    • Source: Official U.S. trade statistics made publicly available from the U.S. International Trade Commission.


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