Largest market shown
Oils: petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude
$498.7M of latest reported imports and $660.6M of calculated three-year opportunity.
Importer opportunity guide
Nicaragua import opportunities
where to source next
Explore Nicaragua's import market by product, supplier concentration, demand growth, and sourcing gaps. Use reported market size and calculated indicators to decide where deeper supplier research may be useful.
Latest imports$10.4B2024 reported value
Import CAGR+4.9%Three-year reported change
GDP$19.7BLatest reported value
GDP per capita$2.8KLatest reported value
Trade openness105.8%Reported share of GDP
Nicaragua import opportunities
What makes this an attractive import market?
Compare market size and growth with supplier concentration. A large market may still need product, quality, tariff, logistics, and buyer validation.
Current import base
$10.4B in imports
Nicaragua recorded $10.4B in imports in 2024, with a three-year change of +4.9%.
How to use the guide
Compare demand with supply
Start with the highest-value products, then review supplier concentration and market conditions before choosing a sourcing route.
Import market overview
Find products where demand and sourcing options meet
This page separates reported import observations from calculated indicators so market size is not mistaken for a guaranteed sourcing opportunity.
Nicaragua imports products from suppliers across major trade regions. The current profile reports $10.4B of imports in 2024, while the opportunity view highlights product and supplier combinations where market demand and supply context may justify further research.
Use the opportunity table to compare product market size, demand growth, supplier counts, concentration, and projected imports. High concentration can indicate reliance on a small supplier base; it can also reflect specialized products that require careful validation.
Top import opportunities
Products and supplier context to review
The top 50 screened products are ranked by calculated three-year opportunity. Reported market values and calculated indicators are labeled separately.
| Rank | Product | Market size | Demand growth | Suppliers | Concentration | Top supplier | Projected imports |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | HS 270900Oils: petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude | $498.7MLatest imports | +9.8% | 2 | 9999 | USADeclining | $660.6M |
| 2 | HS 271019Product description unavailable | $505.7MLatest imports | +11.0% | 53 | 4570 | USADeclining | $691.6M |
| 3 | HS 271012Product description unavailable | $293.6MLatest imports | +12.4% | 11 | 9977 | USADeclining | $416.6M |
| 4 | HS 610910T-shirts, singlets and other vests: of cotton, knitted or crocheted | $277.8MLatest imports | +24.0% | 47 | 5087 | HNDDeclining | $530.3M |
| 5 | HS 600622Fabrics: knitted or crocheted fabrics, other than those of headings 60.01 to 60.04, of cotton, dyed | $308.1MLatest imports | +13.5% | 17 | 2609 | GTMDeclining | $450.8M |
| 6 | HS 870421Vehicles: compression-ignition internal combustion piston engine (diesel or semi-diesel), for transport of goods, (of a gvw not exceeding 5 tonnes), n.e.c. in item no 8704.1 | $244.8MLatest imports | +10.6% | 16 | 3491 | ARGDeclining | $331.2M |
| 7 | HS 854449Insulated electric conductors: for a voltage not exceeding 80 volts, not fitted with connectors | $204.6MLatest imports | +17.0% | 46 | 3594 | MEXDeclining | $327.6M |
| 8 | HS 853890Electrical apparatus: parts suitable for use solely or principally with the apparatus of heading no. 8535, 8536 or 8537 | $104.9MLatest imports | +18.4% | 43 | 6389 | MEXDeclining | $173.9M |
| 9 | HS 100610Cereals: rice in the husk (paddy or rough) | $80.3MLatest imports | +18.1% | 5 | 9991 | USADeclining | $132.3M |
| 10 | HS 230400Oil-cake and other solid residues: whether or not ground or in the form of pellets, resulting from the extraction of soya-bean oil | $90.4MLatest imports | +15.4% | 7 | 8311 | USADeclining | $138.9M |
| 11 | HS 100590Cereals: maize (corn), other than seed | $137.1MLatest imports | +15.2% | 9 | 4197 | USADeclining | $209.8M |
| 12 | HS 851712Telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks | $88.9MLatest imports | +15.7% | 44 | 7265 | USADeclining | $137.5M |
| 13 | HS 871120Motorcycles (including mopeds) and cycles: fitted with an auxiliary motor, reciprocating internal combustion piston engine, of cylinder capacity exceeding 50cc but not exceeding 250cc, with or without side-cars: side-cars | $114.5MLatest imports | +16.8% | 16 | 4929 | CHNDeclining | $182.3M |
| 14 | HS 610990T-shirts, singlets and other vests: of textile materials (other than cotton), knitted or crocheted | $75.8MLatest imports | +30.6% | 42 | 5969 | HNDDeclining | $148.1M |
| 15 | HS 852349Optical media: recorded, excluding products of Chapter 37 | $66.3MLatest imports | +20.5% | 27 | 9025 | USADeclining | $116.1M |
| 16 | HS 020329Meat: of swine, n.e.s. in item no. 0203.2, frozen | $52.2MLatest imports | +31.4% | 4 | 9973 | USAAccelerating | $101.9M |
| 17 | HS 870210Vehicles: public transport type (carries 10 or more passengers), compression-ignition internal combustion piston engine (diesel or semi-diesel) | $80.5MLatest imports | +13.4% | 10 | 7352 | CHNSlowing | $117.5M |
| 18 | HS 870240Vehicles: public transport type (carries 10 or more persons, including driver), with only electric motor for propulsion, new or used | $42.2MLatest imports | +27.9% | 1 | 10000 | GBRDeclining | $82.5M |
| 19 | HS 740819Copper: wire, of refined copper, of which the maximum cross-sectional dimension is 6mm or less | $42.3MLatest imports | +29.6% | 7 | 9902 | MEXGrowing | $82.6M |
| 20 | HS 853690Electrical apparatus: n.e.s. in heading no. 8536, for switching or protecting electrical circuits, for a voltage not exceeding 1000 volts | $82.9MLatest imports | +20.9% | 54 | 4860 | MEXDeclining | $146.6M |
| 21 | HS 300490Medicaments: consisting of mixed or unmixed products n.e.s. in heading no. 3004, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale | $283.8MLatest imports | +9.6% | 54 | 931 | GTMDeclining | $373.7M |
| 22 | HS 392690Plastics: other articles n.e.s. in chapter 39 | $115.6MLatest imports | +14.7% | 71 | 3101 | MEXDeclining | $174.5M |
| 23 | HS 611030Jerseys, pullovers, cardigans, waistcoats and similar articles: of man-made fibres, knitted or crocheted | $38.6MLatest imports | +36.9% | 33 | 8922 | HNDDeclining | $75.3M |
| 24 | HS 630900Clothing: worn, and other worn articles | $62.1MLatest imports | +11.9% | 31 | 6121 | USADeclining | $87.1M |
| 25 | HS 551299Fabrics, woven: of synthetic staple fibres, containing 85% or more by weight of such fibres n.e.c. in heading no. 5512, other than unbleached or bleached | $33.6MLatest imports | +31.3% | 9 | 9791 | USADeclining | $65.7M |
| 26 | HS 210690Food preparations: n.e.s. in item no. 2106.10 | $116.9MLatest imports | +8.6% | 40 | 2075 | CRIDeclining | $149.8M |
| 27 | HS 721420Iron or non-alloy steel: bars and rods, hot-rolled, hot-drawn or hot-extruded, containing indentations, ribs, grooves or other deformations produced during the rolling process or twisted after rolling | $72.6MLatest imports | +10.1% | 10 | 4035 | CRIDeclining | $96.8M |
| 28 | HS 151190Vegetable oils: palm oil and its fractions, other than crude, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified | $74.9MLatest imports | +12.7% | 9 | 3655 | GTMGrowing | $107.4M |
| 29 | HS 240110Tobacco, (not stemmed or stripped) | $92.8MLatest imports | +20.8% | 15 | 2142 | ECUDeclining | $163.7M |
| 30 | HS 611020Jerseys, pullovers, cardigans, waistcoats and similar articles: of cotton, knitted or crocheted | $57.1MLatest imports | +22.0% | 32 | 3681 | HNDStable | $103.8M |
| 31 | HS 271600Electrical energy | $26.7MLatest imports | +100.7% | 3 | 9962 | GTMSlowing | $52.1M |
| 32 | HS 621790Clothing: parts of garments or of clothing accessories, other than those of heading no. 6212 (not knitted or crocheted) | $39.6MLatest imports | +10.6% | 14 | 9371 | HNDDeclining | $53.6M |
| 33 | HS 520100Cotton: not carded or combed | $26.5MLatest imports | +34.8% | 2 | 10000 | USASlowing | $51.8M |
| 34 | HS 300220Vaccines: for human medicine | $67.9MLatest imports | +17.5% | 12 | 3724 | RUSDeclining | $110.3M |
| 35 | HS 481810Paper: toilet paper | $58.5MLatest imports | +12.3% | 11 | 4888 | SLVDeclining | $82.9M |
| 36 | HS 310210Fertilizers, mineral or chemical: nitrogenous, urea, whether or not in aqueous solution | $48.5MLatest imports | +5.8% | 11 | 7241 | RUSDeclining | $57.3M |
| 37 | HS 340220Washing and cleaning preparations: surface-active, whether or not containing soap (excluding those of heading no. 3401), put up for retail sale | $49.1MLatest imports | +15.5% | 18 | 4367 | GTMDeclining | $75.6M |
| 38 | HS 870322Vehicles: with only spark-ignition internal combustion piston engine, cylinder capacity over 1000 but not over 1500cc | $86.5MLatest imports | +10.4% | 18 | 2524 | IDNDeclining | $116.3M |
| 39 | HS 100199Cereals: wheat and meslin, other than durum wheat, other than seed | $46.9MLatest imports | +3.9% | 2 | 6665 | USADeclining | $52.6M |
| 40 | HS 870333Vehicles: compression-ignition internal combustion piston engine (diesel or semi-diesel), cylinder capacity exceeding 2500cc | $43.8MLatest imports | +5.2% | 9 | 6277 | JPNDeclining | $51.0M |
| 41 | HS 870422Vehicles: compression-ignition internal combustion piston engine (diesel or semi-diesel), for transport of goods, (of a g.v.w. exceeding 5 tonnes but not exceeding 20 tonnes), nes in item no 8704.1 | $48.6MLatest imports | +11.1% | 19 | 3770 | JPNDeclining | $66.7M |
| 42 | HS 961900Sanitary towels (pads) and tampons, napkins and napkin liners for babies and similar articles, of any material | $53.9MLatest imports | +13.2% | 20 | 3751 | MEXDeclining | $78.3M |
| 43 | HS 392310Plastics: boxes, cases, crates and similar articles for the conveyance or packing of goods | $46.8MLatest imports | +12.6% | 32 | 3296 | USADeclining | $66.8M |
| 44 | HS 271112Petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons: liquefied, propane | $25.8MLatest imports | +11.7% | 6 | 9217 | USADeclining | $36.0M |
| 45 | HS 240210Cigars, cheroots and cigarillos: containing tobacco including the weight of every band, wrapper or attachment thereto | $23.7MLatest imports | +21.2% | 12 | 6542 | USASlowing | $42.2M |
| 46 | HS 220299Non-alcoholic beverages: other than non-alcoholic beer, n.e.c. in item no. 2202.10, not including fruit, nut or vegetable juices of heading no. 2009 | $52.5MLatest imports | +20.4% | 21 | 2521 | MEXDeclining | $91.6M |
| 47 | HS 190110Food preparations: of flour, meal, starch, malt extract or milk products, for infant use, put up for retail sale | $32.2MLatest imports | +9.0% | 16 | 5838 | MEXStable | $41.7M |
| 48 | HS 600632Fabrics: knitted or crocheted fabrics, other than those of headings 60.01 to 60.04, of synthetic fibres, dyed | $54.0MLatest imports | +30.2% | 15 | 1984 | GTMDeclining | $105.5M |
| 49 | HS 380893Herbicides, anti-sprouting products and plant-growth regulators: not containing substances of 3808.50: put up in forms or packings for retail sale or as preparations or articles | $58.3MLatest imports | +8.0% | 27 | 2863 | CHNDeclining | $73.4M |
| 50 | HS 392321Ethylene polymers: sacks and bags (including cones), for the conveyance or packing of goods | $39.7MLatest imports | +13.5% | 38 | 2974 | SLVDeclining | $58.0M |
Showing the five highest-ranked products on mobile. View the complete import opportunity data.
Product sectors
Which sectors carry the most demand?
HS2 sectors group the screened products into broader families for an easier first comparison.
| Sector | Products | Market size | Opportunity | Average growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HS2 sector 00HS2 00 | 2 | $799.3M | $845.6M | +11.7% |
| Mineral fuelsHS2 27 | 3 | $551.2M | $747.2M | +40.8% |
| Electrical equipmentHS2 85 | 5 | $547.5M | $606.8M | +18.5% |
| Knitted apparelHS2 61 | 4 | $449.3M | $603.9M | +28.4% |
| VehiclesHS2 87 | 7 | $661.0M | $600.3M | +13.6% |
| CerealsHS2 10 | 3 | $264.3M | $293.9M | +12.4% |
| Knitted fabricsHS2 60 | 2 | $362.1M | $221.5M | +21.9% |
| PlasticsHS2 39 | 3 | $202.1M | $139.5M | +13.6% |
| Pharmaceutical productsHS2 30 | 2 | $351.7M | $127.2M | +13.6% |
| Food industry residuesHS2 23 | 1 | $90.4M | $126.1M | +15.4% |
| Meat and edible meat offalHS2 02 | 1 | $52.2M | $101.8M | +31.4% |
| TobaccoHS2 24 | 2 | $116.5M | $87.1M | +21.0% |
Supply gaps
Where supplier concentration deserves attention
The concentration index helps identify products where reported imports rely more heavily on a smaller supplier base. It is a screening signal, not a recommendation by itself.
| Product | Market size | Suppliers | Concentration | Top supplier | Share gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HS 870240Vehicles: public transport type (carries 10 or more persons, including driver), with only electric motor for propulsion, new or used | $42.2M | 1 | 10000 | GBR | 99.9% |
| HS 520100Cotton: not carded or combed | $26.5M | 2 | 10000 | USA | 100.0% |
| HS 270900Oils: petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude | $498.7M | 2 | 9999 | USA | 100.0% |
| HS 100610Cereals: rice in the husk (paddy or rough) | $80.3M | 5 | 9991 | USA | 100.0% |
| HS 271012Product description unavailable | $293.6M | 11 | 9977 | USA | 99.9% |
| HS 020329Meat: of swine, n.e.s. in item no. 0203.2, frozen | $52.2M | 4 | 9973 | USA | 99.9% |
| HS 271600Electrical energy | $26.7M | 3 | 9962 | GTM | 99.8% |
| HS 740819Copper: wire, of refined copper, of which the maximum cross-sectional dimension is 6mm or less | $42.3M | 7 | 9902 | MEX | 99.5% |
Supplier landscape
Which supplier markets appear most often?
These supplier names come from the leading peer signal in the screened opportunity rows and should be validated at product level.
USA
USA, Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands
16 screened products
$2.5BCalculated opportunity across these rowsHND
Honduras
5 screened products
$655.7MCalculated opportunity across these rowsMEX
Mexico
8 screened products
$639.3MCalculated opportunity across these rowsGTM
Guatemala
6 screened products
$450.9MCalculated opportunity across these rowsCHN
China
3 screened products
$243.6MCalculated opportunity across these rowsARG
Argentina
1 screened products
$183.1MCalculated opportunity across these rowsCRI
Costa Rica
2 screened products
$117.4MCalculated opportunity across these rowsRUS
Russia
2 screened products
$99.9MCalculated opportunity across these rowsFrequently asked questions
Using the Nicaragua import opportunity index
Definitions and practical guidance for interpreting market size, growth, suppliers, and concentration.
What are the import opportunities?
They are product and supplier combinations in Nicaragua's screened import market with substantial reported demand and calculated opportunity indicators. They are research priorities, not guaranteed savings or supply contracts.
What does supplier concentration mean?
The concentration index indicates how much reported imports rely on a smaller supplier base. A high value can suggest supply dependence, but it can also reflect specialized products or limited reporting.
How should sourcing teams use this page?
Start with products that fit your specification and volume needs, then validate suppliers, tariffs, standards, logistics, pricing, and continuity for Nicaragua.
Data source
OECD trade statistics with CEPII context
OECD (2025), Balanced international merchandise trade statistics (BIMTS) - HS2017-6D, OECD Data Explorer (accessed on 2026-08-30). OECD BIMTS is the primary trade series for this view. Supporting bilateral trade context uses CEPII BACI bilateral trade flows (202601) under Etalab 2.0 Open Licence. Yugalinks presents derived views of reported observations and calculated indicators. Data terms: OECD Terms & Conditions.