Jamaica Country Commercial Guide
Learn about the market conditions, opportunities, regulations, and business conditions in jamaica, prepared by at U.S. Embassies worldwide by Commerce Department, State Department and other U.S. agencies’ professionals
Select Country Guide
Chemicals and Related Products
Last published date:

Overview

Imports of chemicals and related products from the U.S. have been driven by demand for ethanol to satisfy Jamaica’s E10 fuel mandate and sodium hydroxide for the bauxite/alumina industry. Corn-based ethanol is currently imported from the United States and is blended into the gasoline to create the E10. There is also increasing demand for pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, cosmetics, and jewelry. Growth in pharmaceuticals has been driven by increased access to healthcare through the government’s no-user fee policy and the establishment of a National Health Fund, an aging population, and the increased incidence of lifestyle diseases. Since chemicals and related products require a permit from the Ministry of Health, most U.S. investors enter the market through distributors or agents who are generally better equipped to navigate the regulatory environment. For further information prospective exporters can reach the Ministry of Health and Wellness at (876) 633-7145/6.

Table: Total Market Soze for Chemicals & Related Products ($ M)
Chemicals & Related Products ($ M)202020212022 
Total Exports353551
Total Imports571650780
Imports from the US245290349
Exchange Rates143.27151.62154.21

(Total market size = (total local production + imports) - exports); *N/A indicates no data are available

Source:  STATIN

Leading Sub-Sectors

Sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) in aqueous solution (soda lye or liquid soda), bioethanol fuel and vaccines. Other prospects include medications for cancer, diabetes, hypertension, and respiratory diseases. Beauty products, jewelry, disinfectants, and agricultural chemicals also provide scope for growth.

Opportunities

Exporters to Jamaica will find growing opportunities for pharmaceuticals as the population ages and lifestyle diseases become more prevalent. Demand for pharmaceuticals could also be driven by increased subscription to the National Health Fund and free access to healthcare. The National Health Fund, the government entity responsible for sourcing and distributing products to the public health sector, is a major importer of pharmaceuticals.


 

 

×

Global Business Navigator Chatbot Beta

Welcome to the Global Business Navigator, an artificial intelligence (AI) Chatbot from the International Trade Administration (ITA). This tool, currently in beta version testing, is designed to provide general information on the exporting process and the resources available to assist new and experienced U.S. exporters. The Chatbot, developed using Microsoft’s Azure AI services, is trained on ITA’s export-related content and aims to quickly get users the information they need. The Chatbot is intended to make the benefits of exporting more accessible by understanding non-expert language, idiomatic expressions, and foreign languages.

Limitations

As a beta product, the Chatbot is currently being tested and its responses may occasionally produce inaccurate or incomplete information. The Chatbot is trained to decline out of scope or inappropriate requests. The Chatbot’s knowledge is limited to the public information on the Export Solutions web pages of Trade.gov, which covers a wide range of topics on exporting. While it cannot provide responses specific to a company’s product or a specific foreign market, its reference pages will guide you to other relevant government resources and market research. Always double-check the Chatbot’s responses using the provided references or by visiting the Export Solutions web pages on Trade.gov. Do not use its responses as legal or professional advice. Inaccurate advice from the Chatbot would not be a defense to violating any export rules or regulations.

Privacy

The Chatbot does not collect information about users and does not use the contents of users’ chat history to learn new information. All feedback is anonymous. Please do not enter personally identifiable information (PII), sensitive, or proprietary information into the Chatbot. Your conversations will not be connected to other interactions or accounts with ITA. Conversations with the Chatbot may be reviewed to help ITA improve the tool and address harmful, illegal, or otherwise inappropriate questions.

Translation

The Chatbot supports a wide range of languages. Because the Chatbot is trained in English and responses are translated, you should verify the translation. For example, the Chatbot may have difficulty with acronyms, abbreviations, and nuances in a language other than English.

Privacy Program | Information Quality Guidelines | Accessibility