Promote:
Export from Puerto Rico
A short guide for companies selling from Puerto Rico: the export figures, the agreements and their limits, the main steps and who can help, each with its source.
1. What Puerto Rico sells, and who buys it
Goods exportsEstimate
US$11.5 billion
Merchandise shipped to foreign countries was US$11,464,887,520 in fiscal year 2026 (July 2025 to June 2026), before the Census Bureau's annual review; mainland shipments are excluded.
Source: Planning Board, External Trade Statistics 2026, fiscal year 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of FY2026 (July 2025 to June 2026)
Top goods exports
FY2026 (July 2025 to June 2026)
- 1. Packaged medicines (HS 3004)US$4.01 billion
- 2. Vaccines and immunological products (HS 3002)US$3.3 billion
- 3. Civilian aircraft, engines and partsUS$701.2 million
- 4. Protein-based hormones (HS 2937)US$420.6 million
- 5. Medical and surgical instruments (HS 9018)US$363.8 million
- 6. Orthopedic appliances and implants (HS 9021)US$351.4 million
- 7. Insulated wire and cable (HS 8544)US$295.1 million
- 8. Diagnostic and laboratory reagents (HS 3822)US$161.6 million
Show 12 more products
- 9. Electrical switches and connectors (HS 8536)US$118.2 million
- 10. Parts for electrical switchgear (HS 8538)US$115.6 million
- 11. Nitrogen-based chemical compounds (HS 2933)US$94.7 million
- 12. Refined petroleum products (HS 2710)US$86.6 million
- 13. Contact lenses and optical elements (HS 9001)US$81.7 million
- 14. Rum and other spirits (HS 2208)US$76 million
- 15. Ferrous scrap metal (HS 7204)US$67 million
- 16. Sutures and other pharmaceutical goods (HS 3006)US$66.8 million
- 17. Antibiotics (HS 2941)US$66 million
- 18. Beverage concentrates and food preparations (HS 2106)US$63.3 million
- 19. Sulfonamide compounds (HS 2935)US$63.2 million
- 20. Articles of precious metal (HS 7115)US$49 million
- Medicines and immunological products (HS 3004 and 3002) are 63.8 percent of foreign shipments; most other lines are small by comparison. Source (opens in a new tab)
- The ranking counts shipments to foreign countries only; shipments to the United States mainland and the Virgin Islands are domestic and are not ranked. Source (opens in a new tab)
- Values are fiscal year 2026 totals from July 2025 to June 2026, published before the Census Bureau's annual review, and they include re-exports of imported goods. Source (opens in a new tab)
- Line changes compare with the Planning Board's fiscal year 2025 Table 5, which totals US$18,952,719,381; its September 2026 summary later printed US$18,983.2 million. Source (opens in a new tab)
- Heading 8800, civilian aircraft, engines and parts, is a United States Schedule B heading with no HS code; Brazil was its largest buyer. Source (opens in a new tab)
Source: Planning Board, External Trade Statistics 2026, fiscal year 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of FY2026 (July 2025 to June 2026)
Where the goods go
2026, share of goods exports
- Belgium16.5%
- Spain16.5%
- Netherlands16.2%
- Brazil7.7%
- China5.2%
- Dominican Republic4.5%
- Japan4.2%
- Italy4%
- Destinations are foreign countries only, and shares are of the foreign total; the destination is where the goods are consumed or, if unknown, the country they are consigned to. Source (opens in a new tab)
Source: Planning Board, External Trade Statistics 2026, fiscal year 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2026
2. What to look into next
Our reading
The research marks rum and other spirits, ferrous scrap metal and beverage concentrates and food preparations as lines a small or mid-sized company could be in. If yours is one, check which markets buy that line, not only Puerto Rico’s top destinations overall.
Source: Planning Board, External Trade Statistics 2026, fiscal year 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
Based on: Top goods exports
Articles of precious metal grew 106% from FY2025 (July 2024 to June 2025) to FY2026 (July 2025 to June 2026); rum and other spirits grew 60% from FY2025 (July 2024 to June 2025) to FY2026 (July 2025 to June 2026). A growing line can mean buyers are looking for more; confirm it with that line’s buyers before you plan around it.
Source: Planning Board, External Trade Statistics 2026, fiscal year 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
Based on: Top goods exports, against the year before
Promote:Global’s reading of the figures above, not a source’s statement, and not advice.
3. Trade agreements
What each arrangement can mean for a seller, and its limits. A preference is conditional: check the rules of origin before you quote.
United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement
Gives qualifying United States goods preferential access to Canada and Mexico under its origin rules.
As of November 1, 2026 it stays in force without renewal; USTR opened comments for the 2027 joint review, and says Canada retaliates against some United States goods.
Source: USTR, statement on the USMCA joint review, July 1, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of July 1, 2026
United States free trade agreements with 20 countries
Gives qualifying United States goods lower or no tariffs in Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic and others.
Each agreement defines its own territory and origin rules; confirm that it covers goods made in Puerto Rico before you claim a preference.
Source: USTR, Free Trade Agreements page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
4. Steps to export
The main steps, in order, each with the body responsible and its official page.
Exporting from Puerto Rico
- Get a federal employer identification number, which identifies the exporter in federal filings.Internal Revenue ServiceOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: IRS, Get an employer identification number (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
- Classify the product and check whether it needs a federal export license under the Export Administration Regulations.Bureau of Industry and SecurityOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: International Trade Administration, export regulations of the United States (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
- Screen the foreign buyer and end user against the federal Consolidated Screening List before you ship.International Trade AdministrationOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: International Trade Administration, Consolidated Screening List (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
- Choose the origin document: certify a free trade agreement claim yourself, or ask the Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce for a certificate of origin.Puerto Rico Chamber of CommerceOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Chamber of Commerce, Certificates of Origin page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
Show 7 more export steps
- Check the destination country's technical regulations through the federal enquiry point for the United States.National Institute of Standards and TechnologyOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: NIST, technical barriers to trade enquiry point, March 2, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of March 2, 2026
- Request a federal phytosanitary certificate for plants and plant products.Animal and Plant Health Inspection ServiceOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: APHIS, Plant and Plant Product Exports, January 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of January 12, 2026
- Request a federal export certificate for medical devices if the destination asks for one.U.S. Food and Drug AdministrationOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: FDA, Exporting Medical Devices, content current January 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of January 30, 2026
- For food and drinks, get the Puerto Rico Health Department's sanitary license and product labels, and federal TTB permits and labels for alcoholic beverages.Departamento de Salud; Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade BureauOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: DDEC, Start a business, exporting companies tab (in Spanish) (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
- File electronic export information in the federal Automated Export System for shipments to foreign countries.U.S. Census BureauOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Census Bureau, Export Filing, Automated Export System (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
- Claim federal duty drawback if you paid duties on imported goods that you later export.U.S. Customs and Border ProtectionOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: CBP, Drawback overview, last modified February 11, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of February 11, 2025
- Ask PromoExport, Puerto Rico's export program, about training, market information and the State Trade Expansion Program grant.PromoExportOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: DDEC, Federal Programs, State Trade Expansion grant tab (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
5. Organizations that help exporters
Start with PromoExport and CBP. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
Each card says what it can help with:Get adviceFind financeMeet requirementsResearch markets
Export development and market information
- Get advice
Trade promotion program
PromoExport
Gives expanding companies training, market information, technical help and a place in trade events abroad.
Visit PromoExport (opens in a new tab)Source: DDEC, PromoExport portal (in Spanish) (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
- Get advice
Trade promotion agency
ITA
International Trade Administration
Its Commercial Service office in Guaynabo serves exporters across Puerto Rico.
Visit ITA (opens in a new tab)Source: International Trade Administration, Commercial Service San Juan contact page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
Show 2 more organizations
- Research markets
Planning and trade statistics
Planning Board
Junta de Planificación de Puerto Rico
Publishes the annual External Trade Statistics workbook, the balance of payments and a monthly economic summary.
Visit Planning Board (opens in a new tab)Source: Planning Board, economic and social planning publications page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
- Research markets
Statistics office
Institute of Statistics
Instituto de Estadísticas de Puerto Rico
Prepares the island's files of goods exports and imports from Census Bureau data and publishes monthly and fiscal-year reports.
Customs and tax
- Meet requirements
Customs authority
CBP
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Runs customs entry and drawback for Puerto Rico, a customs district of the United States, and lists its ports of entry.
Visit CBP (opens in a new tab)Source: CBP, ports of entry in Puerto Rico (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
- Research markets
Export filing and statistics
Census Bureau
U.S. Census Bureau
Runs the Automated Export System, where exporters in Puerto Rico file electronic export information.
Visit Census Bureau (opens in a new tab)Source: Census Bureau, Export Filing, Automated Export System (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
Standards and sector requirements
Export controls agency
BIS
Bureau of Industry and Security
Publishes the Export Administration Regulations and tools to classify an item and check license needs.
Visit BIS (opens in a new tab)Source: BIS, home page, 2026 notices (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
- Meet requirements
Food and drug regulator
FDA
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Explains export certificates and export rules for medical devices, a main Puerto Rico export.
Visit FDA (opens in a new tab)Source: FDA, Exporting Medical Devices, content current January 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of January 30, 2026
Show 2 more organizations
- Meet requirements
Plant and animal health authority
APHIS
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Explains how to request phytosanitary certificates for exported plants and plant products.
Visit APHIS (opens in a new tab)Source: APHIS, Plant and Plant Product Exports, January 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of January 12, 2026
- Meet requirements
Standards and measurement agency
NIST
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Runs the technical barriers to trade enquiry point for the United States.
Visit NIST (opens in a new tab)Source: NIST, technical barriers to trade enquiry point, March 2, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of March 2, 2026
Chambers and industry associations
- Get advice
Chamber of commerce
PRCC
Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce
Issues certificates of origin for exports and gives members training, networking and a business directory.
Visit PRCC (opens in a new tab)Source: Chamber of Commerce, Certificates of Origin page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
- Get advice
Manufacturers association
PRMA
Puerto Rico Manufacturers Association
Represents manufacturing and related service companies before the island and federal governments.
Visit PRMA (opens in a new tab)Source: Manufacturers Association, home page, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
6. Worth knowing
Shipping to the mainland
CBP says the coastwise laws keep carriage between United States points to qualifying vessels and cover island territories except American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands and the Virgin Islands.
What to do: Ask your carrier which vessel carries your cargo before you quote a mainland price.
Source: CBP, The Jones Act guide, December 2024 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
Foreign shipments fell
The Planning Board's September 2026 summary puts foreign shipments at US$11,464.9 million in fiscal 2026 against US$18,983.2 million in fiscal 2025, down 39.6 percent, partly from chemicals.
What to do: Check the latest Planning Board summary before you size a foreign market from these totals.
Sources: Planning Board, Economic Summary, September 2026 (in Spanish) (opens in a new tab); Planning Board, External Trade Statistics 2026, fiscal year 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
Revised trade data
The Planning Board says export totals for January 2023 to December 2025 were revised with the Department of Commerce, so earlier published estimates may have changed.
What to do: Quote trade figures with their publication date, and recheck them against the newest table.
Sources: Planning Board, selected indicators, consumer prices, September 2026 (opens in a new tab); Institute of Statistics, foreign trade in goods, product page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
Tariffs on imported inputs
The Planning Board links a fall in imports from foreign countries to tariff costs, and says tariffs lift local prices for goods such as vehicles, medicines, food and fuel.
What to do: Confirm the tariff on each imported input before you price a project.
Source: Planning Board, Economic Summary, September 2026 (in Spanish) (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
Show 1 more
Electricity
The Planning Board says the island's deteriorating electric system creates uncertainty for large manufacturers, whose production could be affected.
What to do: Ask the plant owner or landlord about power backup and outage history before you commit.
Source: Planning Board, Economic Summary, September 2026 (in Spanish) (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026
7. How Promote:Global helps
- Compare potential export marketsSee which markets import what you sell, ranked on public trade data, and read each country before you commit.
- Check duties and document requirementsCheck the duty, the origin conditions for a preferential rate and the documents a shipment needs.
- Find advisors and service firmsAsk an advisory firm a scoped, paid question, or browse firms that list their own services, from legal work to logistics.
- Organize your next stepsKeep each product and market in a project, with a roadmap of steps you work through.
Turn this guide into your Puerto Rico project.
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Promote:Puerto Rico is an independent guide by Promote:Global, not an official government portal. The organizations named here are independent public and membership bodies, not Promote:Global partners, and every link goes to their own site.
Facts read from public sources, with an editorial cut-off of November 1, 2026. Nothing here is investment, legal, tax or sanctions advice. Check current status with the organization before you rely on it.