BizCLIR

Trade infrastructure includes supporting transportation infrastructure, such as roadways, airports, seaports, railroads, and border crossings. Additional infrastructure assessed includes electrical power generation and distribution, telecommunications, and IT. This assessment provides a snapshot of the nation’s existing infrastructure across the following areas: inventory of facilities, serviceability and conditions, predominant operations, capacity, utilization, and capital planning initiatives.

Overall, Costa Rica’s trade infrastructure suffers from systemic negligence in both maintenance and expansion. Infrastructure development has been outpaced by demand over the past decade. While not quantifiable, the costs associated with continued operations under existing conditions will hurt Costa Rica’s competitive position in the marketplace. Costa Rica will require focused investments in infrastructure to facilitate trade. Of particular importance are overland transportation facilities (i.e., roads and rail). Along many stretches, roadways are substandard and inadequate to efficiently accommodate today’s volume of traffic, and also in poor repair. The rail network is operational along only a fraction of existing rights-of-way, providing limited service for select private entities.

Costa Rica’s primary seaport region on the Caribbean Coast, Limón/Moín is operating at above sustainable capacity. Existing berth occupancies are currently comparable to high-demand international seaport facilities. Private sector carriers have invested heavily in inland distribution terminals to correct for the seaport’s lack of on-dock storage capacity. Consequently, operational costs associated with double handling, drayage, and the potential for significant delays are high and will ultimately price Costa Rica’s seaport system out of the competitive market unless significant expansion of port facilities is implemented.

Costa Rica’s international airport infrastructure is currently planned for significant private sector investment and is operating at serviceable levels. Air cargo is augmented by inland distribution facilities and is reported to have available capacity for cargo growth.

Costa Rica’s electrical power distribution, telecommunications, and IT services are operating at serviceable levels with minimal reported outages. However, the services are currently provided through a government-owned monopoly agency.