Nicaragua Breaks Export Record and Advances Diversification Towards China

The Nicaragua Exports 2026 Forum is approaching, to be held on October 15 and 16 of this year, where various national and international stakeholders will meet to promote the country's exports. This and other topics were discussed this Tuesday on Estudio TN8.

“We have seen very positive performance in our exports in the first quarter of 2026. By February, we had a record value of more than 1.8 billion in exports, so we are on the right track. And in 2025, we will close with a historic record,” said Karina Mejía, director of the Secretariat for Investment and Export Promotion.

She added that “in January, we had more than 1 billion, which is the first time we have met that goal, fulfilling our Production, Consumption, and Trade Plan and our foreign trade targets.”

He also noted that the trend is positive and that Nicaragua is taking the right steps, with good communication and organization between institutions and the private sector.

Diversification of Exports in Nicaragua
“We have a foundation of collaborative work with the productive sectors, providing institutional support, and there is also a positive market. We are growing in alternative markets, such as the People's Republic of China. We also maintain our traditional trading partners, facing challenges in a constantly changing world of trade, but we remain a very resilient country, and the government's strategies have been positive,” he stated.

It was also emphasized that Nicaragua's star export products are gold, beef, coffee, automotive wiring harnesses, textiles, and dairy products, specifically cheese. Other notable products include beans and tobacco.

Regarding trade with China, he explained that the Free Trade Agreement entails a series of phytosanitary measures and market access regulations; however, these have already been successfully implemented.

“We also have beef in the Chinese market, we have coffee, we have raw peanut oil, which we began exporting this year. Right now, we are developing everything related to market access for Nicaraguan tobacco. All of this is positive and we will see it reflected in this year's export figures and in the years to come,” Mejía added.

What does the Nicaragua Exports Forum 2026 offer?
The director of the Investment and Export Promotion Secretariat also spoke about the Nicaragua Exports Forum 2026, which will take place at the Olof Palme Convention Center in mid-October.

“This year’s theme is: quality products for the world. We promote the Nicaragua Exports platform as a space for trade promotion, strengthening business networks, and creating strategic alliances that allow us to contribute to the economic and social development of our country,” Mejía stated.

She indicated that the call for participation is now open to national and international representatives. “This is an initial presentation, as we will also be launching our website. This is a coordinated effort between several institutions: the Ministry of Development, Industry and Commerce, the Investment and Export Promotion Secretariat, and the National Free Trade Zone Commission. We also work in conjunction with other institutions that facilitate foreign trade.”

She added that the first edition was held in 2025 with the participation of more than 40 companies, and that this year the goal is to exceed 60 companies. “Next week we will launch the website, and registration will be available for both the trade fair and the business matchmaking sessions, as well as other activities such as barista workshops, coffee tastings, and more,” she assured.

Positive Outlook
Karina Mejía also noted that, based on the experience of 2025, the coffee auction was very important; sales were achieved within the forum at very competitive prices.

“We have the leading exporting companies and the main products at the trade fair,” the official stated.

The Nicaragua Exports Forum 2026 will also feature specialists giving talks and presentations, with the aim of continuing to guide exporters on how to enter new markets.

Finally, Mejía indicated that the signs for the Nicaraguan economy remain healthy and with good prospects for 2026. However, the challenges remain in increasing volume and optimizing the efficiency of export processes to other countries.

Source: TN8 Nicaragua