Statistics Institute: PR paid record $919.7 million in tariffs in 2025

Ronald Hernández Maldonado, statistical project manager at the Puerto Rico Statistics Institute (LinkedIn)

By THE STAR STAFF

Puerto Rico paid $919.7 million in tariffs during 2025, the highest amount recorded between 2010 and 2025, according to new data released Tuesday by the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics (PRSI).

The figure represents a dramatic increase of $683.1 million compared with 2024, when tariff payments totaled $236.6 million. The year‑over‑year jump amounts to 288.66%, driven largely by higher duties on goods essential to the island’s construction and manufacturing sectors.

“Overall, the analysis confirms that the greatest tariff burden falls on goods of high importance to the construction and manufacturing industries, with elevated effective tariff rates on finished metals and iron, steel, and aluminum derivatives,” said Ronald Hernández Maldonado, the PRSI’s statistical project manager.

Imports in 2025 reached $19.1 billion, while the island’s effective tariff rate climbed to 4.81%, up from 1.17% the previous year.

The upward trend began in April 2025, when monthly tariff payments rose to $79 million, with an effective rate of 3.59%. November registered the highest effective rate of the year at 7.61%, with imports totaling $1.23 billion and tariff payments reaching $93.5 million.

China was the top country of origin for tariff‑heavy imports. Goods imported from China totaled $828.6 million and generated $275.2 million in tariffs, reflecting an effective rate of 33.22%.

Japan ranked second with $114.5 million in tariffs, followed by Mexico, South Korea, the Dominican Republic, Spain, Brazil, Germany, France and Vietnam.

According to the PRSI, the increases were concentrated in goods tied to construction, manufacturing and food production.

Hernández Maldonado warned that the higher tariff burden could ripple through Puerto Rico’s supply chain and affect household budgets.

“Due to the cumulative effect on the supply chain, these increases can impact daily life, not only through food prices but also through higher costs for housing, cars, appliances, tools, canned goods, electricity, and more,” he said.

Given Puerto Rico’s heavy dependence on imported goods, he added, tariff increases extend beyond foreign trade and become a pressing local economic issue.

PRSI Executive Director Orville Disdier said the findings underscore the need for continuous monitoring of tariff pressures and their economic effects.

“In the midst of this volatility and cost pressures, there are also potential opportunities to strengthen the island’s productive base,” Disdier noted.

The report suggests that current conditions could open the door for expanding local production and increasing Puerto Rico’s presence in the U.S. market through manufacturing relocation strategies.