Disclaimer & Research Notice

The information, estimates, projections, market observations, and regional analysis contained in this report are based on independent research, publicly available sources, industry reports, logistics observations, market behavior patterns, and Cibigi’s operational experience across Caribbean commerce and digital infrastructure since 2016.

While every effort has been made to compile credible and relevant information, Cibigi does not guarantee the absolute accuracy, completeness, reliability, or precision of any figures, estimates, projections, or third-party data referenced in this publication. Certain figures included in this report are directional estimates intended to support strategic discussion, market understanding, and regional commerce analysis rather than serve as official governmental, financial, investment, statistical, or economic reporting.

Readers are encouraged to conduct their own independent verification, due diligence, and research before making business, operational, financial, investment, or policy decisions based on any information contained in this document.

Executive Summary

After deep research across official institutions, central banks, industry reports, logistics companies, news sources, regional economic publications, and freight-forwarding activity, one major conclusion became clear:

There is currently NO single official public database that breaks down exactly how much consumers in each Caribbean country spend annually on U.S. websites and foreign e-commerce platforms.

Neither the World Bank, IMF, ECCB, CARICOM, nor most Caribbean governments publicly publish country-by-country datasets specifically tracking:

  • spending on Amazon
  • spending on U.S. retail websites
  • cross-border e-commerce imports by consumer origin
  • online retail purchases by destination country
  • marketplace-specific spending activity
  • regional digital import flows

However, there ARE credible regional data points, market studies, customs/import indicators, logistics patterns, and industry estimates that together paint a strong picture of the Caribbean’s growing online spending economy.

This report compiles the strongest publicly accessible research, regional indicators, market observations, and directional estimates currently available.

Regional Population Context

The wider Caribbean region represents an estimated population of approximately 45–49 million people across island nations, overseas territories, and CARICOM-connected economies.

While income levels, internet penetration, banking access, and digital infrastructure vary by country, the region has rapidly evolved into a highly active cross-border consumer market heavily influenced by:

  • imported consumer goods
  • U.S. retail platforms
  • freight forwarding systems
  • tourism-driven consumption
  • diaspora purchasing behavior
  • expanding internet access
  • mobile commerce growth
  • limited local product availability

Although the Caribbean consists of many small island economies, the combined regional population represents a consumer market comparable in size to major global economic regions.

Based on the research compiled in this report, the evidence strongly suggests that billions of dollars are already flowing annually from Caribbean consumers toward foreign e-commerce platforms and international retail ecosystems.

1. Most Important Verified Regional Numbers

Caribbean E-Commerce Market Size

A 2025 Caribbean e-commerce market report estimated the Caribbean online retail market at approximately:

  • US$2.8 billion annual e-commerce market value
  • Expected CAGR growth of roughly 17%
  • Approximately 72% of online purchases are made from foreign websites

The report specifically identified foreign platforms as dominant:

  • Amazon (U.S.): 45% of cross-border purchases
  • AliExpress / Alibaba: 18%
  • SHEIN: 12%

Implication

If the US$2.8B figure is directionally accurate:

  • Roughly US$2B+ of Caribbean online spending is cross-border
  • Amazon alone may represent close to US$900M+ of regional cross-border online activity

However, multiple regional indicators suggest the Caribbean’s true consumer import economy may be significantly larger than officially measurable e-commerce activity.

2. Why the Real Number May Be Much Higher

Officially measurable e-commerce activity may significantly underrepresent the Caribbean’s true consumer import economy.

Several regional factors may reduce the visibility of actual consumer spending within traditional e-commerce reporting systems, including:

  • informal purchasing behavior
  • freight forwarding arrangements
  • diaspora-assisted purchasing
  • traveler-assisted imports
  • cash-based transactions
  • sanctions and payment restrictions in certain markets
  • limited card penetration
  • parcel consolidation systems
  • untracked imports
  • social commerce and messaging-based transactions

This means portions of the Caribbean’s real consumer purchasing activity may exist outside traditional e-commerce measurement systems, making the region’s true digital commerce economy potentially much larger than officially reported figures suggest.

3. ECCB & Official Regional Trade Indicators

The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) confirmed that ECCU member states collectively import billions of dollars in goods annually, largely from:

  • United States
  • Trinidad & Tobago
  • China

ECCB data showed:

  • ECCU imported approximately US$2 billion in goods during 2020

The ECCB also publishes merchandise trade statistics showing consistently high import dependence across Eastern Caribbean countries.

Important Observation

A growing portion of these imports increasingly includes:

  • small parcel imports
  • freight-forwarded packages
  • Amazon shipments
  • Shein shipments
  • direct-to-consumer e-commerce imports

This trend appears especially strong in:

  • Saint Lucia
  • Antigua & Barbuda
  • St. Kitts & Nevis
  • Dominica
  • Grenada
  • Barbados
  • Trinidad & Tobago
  • Jamaica

4. Strong Evidence That Caribbean Consumers Heavily Buy from U.S. Websites

Major freight forwarding companies serving Caribbean consumers report consistently high demand for:

  • Amazon purchases
  • electronics
  • home goods
  • fashion
  • auto parts
  • beauty products

Large Caribbean import destinations repeatedly identified include:

  • Jamaica
  • Trinidad & Tobago
  • Barbados
  • Bahamas
  • Cayman Islands
  • OECS member states

These logistics and forwarding systems provide some of the clearest indicators of actual Caribbean cross-border consumer demand.

5. Country-Level Findings (Verified Public Information)

Jamaica

Key Indicators

  • One of the largest e-commerce consumer markets in CARICOM
  • Strong Amazon usage
  • Extensive freight forwarding activity
  • Large diaspora-driven purchasing patterns
  • Significant online electronics and fashion imports

Trinidad & Tobago

Key Indicators

  • High credit card penetration
  • Strong online purchasing culture
  • Major U.S. freight-forwarding market
  • Significant electronics and fashion imports
  • Strong logistics connectivity

Barbados

Verified Findings

Barbados consumers actively purchase from:

  • Amazon
  • Shein
  • U.S. department stores
  • beauty retailers
  • electronics platforms

Consumer discussions consistently reference:

  • freight forwarding
  • importing from U.S. retailers
  • high duties and shipping costs
  • limited local product availability

Bahamas

Findings

The Bahamas demonstrates strong indicators of cross-border online consumption through:

  • Florida freight forwarding connections
  • imported electronics demand
  • strong U.S. retail influence
  • tourism-linked purchasing behavior

Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU)

Countries Include

  • Saint Lucia
  • Antigua & Barbuda
  • Dominica
  • Grenada
  • St. Kitts & Nevis
  • St. Vincent & the Grenadines
  • Anguilla
  • Montserrat

ECCB trade data confirms:

  • heavy import dependence
  • growing consumer goods demand
  • increasing digital commerce participation

In many of these islands, freight forwarding has effectively become part of consumer infrastructure.

Consumers commonly purchase from:

  • Amazon
  • Walmart
  • eBay
  • Shein
  • Temu
  • Best Buy
  • Fashion Nova
  • U.S. beauty retailers

6. Estimated Country-by-Country Caribbean Cross-Border Online Consumer Spending

Important Notice

The following figures are directional estimates derived from:

  • population size
  • internet penetration
  • banking/card access
  • freight forwarding activity
  • GDP per capita
  • import dependence
  • logistics intensity
  • consumer purchasing behavior
  • regional commerce patterns

These are NOT official government numbers.

However, they represent realistic market estimates based on the strongest publicly accessible evidence currently available.

Estimated Caribbean Consumer Spending on Foreign / U.S. Websites

Country Population (Approx.) Estimated Annual Online Consumer Spend on Foreign Websites Estimated Spend Per Person
Jamaica 2.83M US$320M – US$500M US$113 – US$177
Trinidad & Tobago 1.53M US$250M – US$450M US$163 – US$294
Dominican Republic 11.3M US$700M – US$1.2B US$62 – US$106
Puerto Rico 3.2M US$1.5B – US$3B US$469 – US$938
Bahamas 0.41M US$120M – US$250M US$292 – US$609
Barbados 0.28M US$60M – US$120M US$214 – US$428
Saint Lucia 0.18M US$25M – US$60M US$139 – US$333
Antigua & Barbuda 0.10M US$18M – US$40M US$180 – US$400
Grenada 0.13M US$15M – US$35M US$115 – US$269
St. Kitts & Nevis 0.05M US$10M – US$25M US$200 – US$500
St. Vincent & the Grenadines 0.10M US$12M – US$30M US$120 – US$300
Dominica 0.07M US$8M – US$20M US$114 – US$286
Cayman Islands 0.08M US$80M – US$180M US$1,000 – US$2,250
Aruba 0.11M US$40M – US$90M US$364 – US$818
Curacao 0.15M US$50M – US$110M US$333 – US$733
Turks & Caicos 0.05M US$15M – US$40M US$300 – US$800
Belize 0.42M US$35M – US$80M US$83 – US$190
Guyana 0.83M US$60M – US$150M US$72 – US$181
Suriname 0.63M US$30M – US$70M US$48 – US$111
Haiti 11.7M US$80M – US$250M US$7 – US$21

7. Estimated Regional Total

Using available market indicators, logistics activity, regional import behavior, and directional estimates:

Conservative Estimate

Approximately US$3.5 billion annually

Moderate Estimate

Approximately US$5 billion annually

Aggressive Estimate

Potentially US$7 billion+ annually

especially when including:

  • Puerto Rico
  • informal imports
  • freight forwarding
  • traveler-assisted imports
  • diaspora-assisted purchasing
  • untracked parcel imports
  • Chinese marketplace purchases
  • social commerce activity

8. Most Important Strategic Insight

Even conservative estimates suggest:

Billions of dollars leave the Caribbean every year through foreign e-commerce platforms.

Most of this value currently flows toward:

  • Amazon
  • Walmart
  • Shein
  • Temu
  • U.S. retailers
  • Florida forwarding companies
  • global logistics providers
  • Visa / Mastercard payment rails

instead of remaining within Caribbean economies.

Final Conclusion

A fully verified public country-by-country dataset for “how much Caribbean consumers spend on U.S. websites” does NOT currently appear to exist publicly.

However, all credible evidence strongly confirms:

  • Caribbean consumers spend heavily online internationally
  • foreign platforms dominate regional online commerce
  • Amazon is likely the largest foreign platform in the region
  • billions of dollars flow annually through cross-border e-commerce
  • cross-border purchases dominate Caribbean digital commerce activity
  • the Caribbean remains significantly under-served by local digital commerce infrastructure

The lack of official measurement is itself an important finding:

The Caribbean online consumer economy is already large, fragmented, rapidly growing, and significantly under-measured.

Build the Future of Caribbean Commerce with Cibigi

The Caribbean consumer economy is evolving rapidly. Millions of consumers across the region are already purchasing online every year, yet much of that economic value continues to leave the region through foreign platforms, payment systems, and logistics networks.

At Cibigi, we believe the Caribbean deserves modern digital commerce infrastructure built with the realities of developing economies in mind.

Since 2016, Cibigi has been developing Internet Retail Infrastructure™ solutions designed to help businesses, entrepreneurs, and communities participate more effectively in the digital economy through integrated commerce, logistics, delivery, online retail, and technology systems.

Whether you are looking to modernize your business, improve customer reach, streamline delivery operations, or build scalable digital commerce systems, Cibigi is committed to helping businesses grow with resilient infrastructure built for the Caribbean and beyond.

Contact Cibigi Today

Phone: +1 758-518-8065
Email: [email protected]
Website: Cibigi Commerce

Sources & Research References

  • The Cibigi Research Team
  • Regional Trade & E-Commerce Market Research
  • ECCB Regional Economic Data
  • Industry Logistics & Consumer Commerce Reports
  • Caribbean Freight Forwarding & Import Activity Research
  • Publicly Accessible Market & Consumer Research Sources
  • Cibigi Operational Experience Since 2016