NASSAU, BAHAMAS: The Bahamas imported an estimated $1.3 billion worth of goods during the first three months of 2026, a 6.4 percent increase over the same period last year, while exports edged lower, according to newly released figures from the Bahamas National Statistical Institute (BNSI).
The BNSI’s First Quarter 2026 Foreign Trade Statistics Report, released Tuesday, showed merchandise imports totalled approximately $1.3 billion between January and March, reflecting continued demand for machinery, food, fuel and manufactured goods.
Machinery and Transport Equipment remained the country’s largest import category, with goods valued at $319 million, representing 25 percent of all imports during the quarter.
The second-largest import category was Food and Live Animals, which totalled $223 million and accounted for 18 percent of overall imports.
Other major import categories included Miscellaneous Manufactured Articles, Mineral Fuels, Lubricants and Related Materials, and Chemicals, which together were valued at $399 million, making up 31 percent of total imports.
While imports increased, the report showed a slight decline in exports.
Total exports—including both domestically produced goods and re-exports—were valued at approximately $187 million during the first quarter, representing a 2.0 percent decrease compared with the same period in 2025.
Machinery and Transport Equipment also led export activity, generating $65 million or 35 percent of total exports.
The second-largest export category was Mineral Fuels, Lubricants and Related Materials, valued at $43 million, accounting for 23 percent of exports.
Manufactured Goods Classified Chiefly by Materials ranked third, contributing $31 million, or 17 percent of total exports.
The BNSI said the report provides the country’s official statistics on merchandise trade, measuring goods imported into The Bahamas for local consumption or further processing, as well as goods exported from The Bahamas, including both locally produced products and re-exported goods.
