The Costa Rican company Nitrile Gloves Joint Stock Company gave up the benefits of free zone regime due to the impossibility of competing with the prices of local importers, in the market of examination gloves for the sector medical implements and high technology.
He Executive Branch accepted the request of the company after a favorable technical report from the Foreign Trade Promoter of Costa Rica (Procomer).
Nitrile Gloves began operations in the free zone regime with the objective of manufacture gloves. At the time of the initial investment, the market price of the 100-unit box ranged between $12 and $20. However, market saturation during the Covid-19 pandemic caused a collapse in international values once the health emergency is over.
Before the authorities, the firm explained that the imported gloves entered with a value of just $1.3 per boxwhile the manufacturing cost in Costa Rica was $6.76 in optimal conditions. The company rated “impossible” competition against local importers under those economic circumstances.
In addition to the high cost of production, the company faced serious difficulties in placing its merchandise in the free zone market. The competition offered much more competitive prices, which closed business opportunities for the processing plant.
The resignation documents were presented between November 2025 and February 2026. The Executive Branch endorsed the resignation on April 8 and confirmed that the company maintained its current security deposit.
The decision was formalized by an agreement signed by the Minister of Foreign TradeManuel Tovar, and the Vice Minister of the Presidency, Jorge Rodríguez Bogle, representing the President of the Republic, Rodrigo Chaves.
The free zone regime grants benefits, including income tax exemption, to companies that commit to investing a certain amount of money and generating a number of direct jobs in the country, among other requirements.
Between January 2025 and February 16, 2026, the Presidency of the Republic and the Ministry of Foreign Trade (Comex) granted the Free Zone Regime to 68 companies through executive agreements. Some already installed in the country agreed to reinvest; the longest term ends in 2033.
Together, these companies committed to investing $2,439.3 million in the country.
