KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – The Jamaican economy grew by 5.1 per cent in the July to September quarter of 2025, compared with the corresponding period in 2024.
Providing details during a press briefing on Thursday, Director General, Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN), Leesha Delatie-Budair, said the overall performance in the third quarter largely reflected continued recovery from the negative impacts of Hurricane Beryl in July 2024.
She said the goods-producing industries grew by 10.9 per cent, noting that this was supported by strong growth in agriculture, forestry and fishing, mining and quarrying, manufacturing, and construction.
The agriculture, forestry, and fishing industry recorded the highest growth at 20.9 per cent, influenced by improved weather conditions. The services industries grew by 3.3 per cent. All services industries recorded growth except for public administration and defence, which declined by 0.7 per cent,” Delatie-Budair said.
“Regarding international merchandise trade statistics for the period January to August 2025, earnings from total merchandise exports for the period January to August 2025 amounted to US$1,210.9 million, while imported goods were valued at US$5,131.0 million. This resulted in a balance of visible trade of negative US$3,920.1 million,” she pointed out.
Relative to the same period in 2024, Delatie-Budair said earnings from the total export of goods increased by one per cent, mainly due to increased revenue from crude materials, excluding fuels.
“Spending on imported goods increased by 3.7 per cent during the review period, primarily driven by increases in the imports of raw materials or intermediate goods, up by 11.8 per cent, and consumer goods up by 9.1 per cent,” she said.
Delatie-Budair noted that the statistics reflect the economy’s performance before Hurricane Melissa’s impact.
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