Can private companies import crude oil into Costa Rica?

RECOPE is the SOLE authorised importer of crude and refined fuels. Costa Rica has no operating refinery; RECOPE imports finished products.

Are refined products (diesel, fuel oil, gasoline) tradeable by private importers in Costa Rica?

RECOPE state monopoly on petroleum import and wholesale. Private participation limited to retail station ownership.

Does OilFlow screen counterparties against Costa Rica regulations?

Yes. The same rule table shown on this page ships in the Regulatory Matrix API; counterparty checks destined for Costa Rica are gated against these rules automatically.

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Regulatory

Costa Rica — oil import rules

These are the same rules the Regulatory Matrix API serves for Costa Rica-bound trade: which products private parties can move, which run through a government or monopoly route, and which are closed outright.

Open to private trade0

Restricted1

Blocked2

Compiled regulatory guidance from OilFlow Network, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the relevant national regulator before structuring a deal.

Product-by-product

Crude oilBLOCKED: Not tradeable by private partiesRECOPE is the SOLE authorised importer of crude and refined fuels. Costa Rica has no operating refinery; RECOPE imports finished products.
Refined products (diesel, fuel oil, gasoline, jet)BLOCKED: Not tradeable by private partiesRECOPE state monopoly on petroleum import and wholesale. Private participation limited to retail station ownership.
LPGRESTRICTED: Restricted — government/monopoly routeRECOPE imports bulk LPG; private distributors handle bottling and retail under ARESEP regulation.

Frequently asked

Can private companies import crude oil into Costa Rica?: RECOPE is the SOLE authorised importer of crude and refined fuels. Costa Rica has no operating refinery; RECOPE imports finished products.
Are refined products (diesel, fuel oil, gasoline) tradeable by private importers in Costa Rica?: RECOPE state monopoly on petroleum import and wholesale. Private participation limited to retail station ownership.
Does OilFlow screen counterparties against Costa Rica regulations?: Yes. The same rule table shown on this page ships in the Regulatory Matrix API; counterparty checks destined for Costa Rica are gated against these rules automatically.

Use this jurisdiction

These rules ship in the Regulatory Matrix API, from $99/mo. Bank compliance teams hit /api/v1/regulatory/check to gate counterparty intake automatically; subscribers get webhooks on every rule change. Screening a specific counterparty into Costa Rica? Run a free check first.