Merchandise imports grew for the first quarter of 2025

The total value of the Islands’ importation of goods for the first quarter of 2025 stood at $477.6 million, an increase of 13.1 percent. This growth mostly reflected the rise in the imports of non-petroleum products which was partially offset by the reduced importation of petroleum-related products.

Non-petroleum imports amounted to $425.7 million, an increase of 16.1 percent. There was a 23.1 percent growth in the imports of food and live animals due to higher imports of meat and meat preparations, fish, vegetables and fruit as well as dairy products and bird’s eggs. Miscellaneous manufactured articles imports grew by 29.5 percent due largely to imports of miscellaneous manufactured articles n.e.s and professional, scientific and controlling instruments and apparatus. There was larger importation of manufactured goods classified chiefly by materials by 21.7 percent due to increased imports of manufactures of metals, n.e.s, paper and articles of paper, non-ferrous metals and steel. Imports of beverages and tobacco increased 38.2 percent reflecting the 31.1 percent increase in the importation of beverages such as wines, rum and other spirits. Tobacco imports grew 97.1 percent for the review quarter. Machinery and transport equipment imports increased by 2.6 percent due to larger purchases of general industrial machinery and equipment, telecommunications equipment, and office machines.

Petroleum and petroleum-related imports decreased by 6.9 percent to reach $51.87 million for the first three months of the year. This decline was driven by the reduced quantities of all major types of petroleum fuel imported for the review period.

More information on the “The Cayman Islands’ Quarterly Trade Statistics Bulletin: January to March 2025” are available at www.eso.ky.