21% gain for JSE Main Market


The Main Market closed on Friday, October 30, with the JSE Market Index at 385,199.03 points, a gain of 67,212.15 points, or 21.14 percent, from its 2025 year-end close of 317,986.88. The advance was led by a handful of very large movers, with West Indies Petroleum Terminals more than sextupling in value, while a number of securities lost a third or more of their value.

The gain in the index is the highest since 2019, when the market index rose 34 percent, the year before the COVID pandemic in 2020. the current year seems set to be the third consecutive year of increase for the market index.
West Indies Petroleum led the the top winners by a wide margin with a gain of 656.49 percent that dwarfed the second placed mover, NCB Financial Group, with a gain of 106.94 percent and followed by Transjamaican Highway jumping 103.48 percent. Cigarette distributor Carreras advanced 61.11 percent, coming off from a high of $36.21, earlier in the year, when it doubled in price. Lasco Manufacturing rose a respectable 38.41 percent and Scotia Group, which is being taken private at $75 per share, gained 32.08 percent. Kingston Properties appreciated 30.85 percent, Sagicor Real Estate Fund ended with a gain of 18.75 percent, General Accident was next after gaining 16.13 percent and surprisingly, RJR Group, the loss maker that is being restructured, rounded out the top ten, gaining 14.04 percent.
At the other end of the market, Palace Amusement Company and A.S. Bryden Holdings were the weakest performers in the market for the year to date, each declining by 50 percent. Mayberry Group dropped by 36.71 percent and Portland JSX declined by 33.50 percent. Sygnus Real Estate Finance lost 28.52 percent and PROVEN Group declined 27.27 percent. Tropical Battery Company was down 20 percent, First Rock Real Estate Investments fell by 18.80 percent, while Wigton Windfarm, suffering from delayed build-out of its new solar power generation plant, suffered a loss of 18.18 percent, and the Jamaica Stock Exchange declined 17.88 percent.

Jamaican Teas heads trading on Friday


Trading for a second consecutive day, Jamaican Teas led trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Junior Market on Friday, with 4 million shares, representing 21.2 per cent of the volume. The total volume jumped 40 percent, with a value up 35 percent compared with Thursday. A total of 41 securities were exchanged, similar to Thursday and ended with prices of only 11 rising, 15 declining and 15 closing unchanged.

The market closed with trading of 19,590,680 shares for $35,932,610, after rising from 14,007,097 units at $26,566,861 on Thursday.
Trading closed with an average of 477,821 shares at $876,405, up from 341,637 stocks at $647,972 on Thursday. Trading for the month to date, averages 454,488 units at $837,352 in alignment with 453,347 stocks at $835,441 on Thursday, well above the average of 324,023 shares at $544,060 for September.
Jamaican Teas led trading with 4.15 million shares for 21.2 percent of total volume followed by Derrimon Trading with 3.65 million stocks for 18.6 percent of the day’s trade, Fosrich closed with 3.35 million stock units for 17.1 percent of the volume traded, Mailpac Group with 1.51 million shares for 7.7 percent of the shares traded, ONE on ONE Educational with 1.38 million stocks for 7 percent of the total trades and Lumber Depot with 1.0 million stock units for 5.1 percent of market share.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index popped 22.94 points to end at 3,232.63. The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows four stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.3. ICInsider.com computes the PE ratios derived by dividing the last traded stock price by earnings per share for companies with the fiscal years ending around August 2027.
At the close of Friday’s session, Access Financial popped $3.42 in closing at $20.99 after a transfer of 66 stocks, Caribbean Cream slipped 15 cents to $4.68 with 13,225 units crossing the exchange, Caribbean Flavours fell 17 cents and ended at $1.13 with investors dealing in 15,896 shares. Derrimon Trading gained 27 cents to finish at $1.27 with 3,647,962 stock units passing through the market, Dolla Financial dropped 11 cents to $3.55 as investors exchanged 184,481 shares, Elite Diagnostic declined by 7 cents in closing at $1.74 with a transfer of 31 stocks. ISP Finance shed 35 cents to end at $12 after an exchange of 369 units, Jamaican Teas rose 14 cents to settle at $2.19 with 4,151,714 stock units crossing the market, Lumber Depot climbed 19 cents and ended at $2.70 with an exchange of 1,001,500 shares. Mailpac Group increased 24 cents to finish at $2.60 with 1,506,235 units clearing the market, ONE on ONE Educational advanced 5 cents and ended at 85 cents with a transfer of 1,379,071 stocks and Regency Petroleum rallied 16 cents to close at $4.37 with investors swapping 620,115 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those of the last transaction.

Big gains for some T&T stocks in 2026


The Trinidad Stock Exchange Main Market indices ended the year to Friday, 30 October 2026 being mixed. The Composite Index climbed 52.73 points, or 5.57 percent, from its 2025 close of 946.46. The Cross-Listed Index settled at 79.74, having risen by 10.86 points, or 15.77 percent, since the end of 2025, the strongest index performance of the year.

The All T&T Index gained 30.78 points, or 2.25 percent, ahead of its 2025 close of 1,370.90. The SME Index shed 20.45 points, or 21.74 percent, from 94.06 at the end of 2025. It is the only index to fall for the period.

A few stocks recorded solid gains, with Trinidad and Tobago NGL topping the market with a rise of 277 percent, ahead of National Enterprises at 170 percent. These two were far ahead of the rest of the field.  The Jamaican based NCB Financial Group followed with gains of 67 percent, Point Lisas, up by 59 percent, West Indian Tobacco delivered a gain of 47.5 percent and Eric Solis Marketing, 43 percent. Guardian Media rose a respectable 25 percent, JMMB Group and Guardian Holdings ended with gains of 17 percent each, and One Caribbean Media at 12.8 percent.
Stocks declining were led by two sharp declines, with CinemaONE dropping by 51 percent and A.S. Bryden Holdings down 47 percent. Endeavour Holdings declined 31 percent and Agostini’s fell by 30 percent. L.J. Williams lost near 22 percent and Angostura Holdings 19 percent. Smaller declining stocks were Massy Holdings at 10.57 percent, Medcorp at 8.88 percent, Prestige Holdings at 6.46 percent and ANSA McAL at 3.87 percent.

Trading drops on the T&T Stock Exchange


Investors restrained their enthusiasm for trading on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange on Friday, resulting in the volume of stocks exchanged declining 50 percent and the value sinking 65 percent compared to Thursday, following trading in 20 securities, down from 25 on Thursday and ending with prices of five stocks rising, six declining and nine ending firm.

The market closed with an exchange of 120,499 shares for $777,222 after tumbling from 242,403 stock units at $2,228,500 on Thursday.
Trading ended with an average of 6,025 shares at $38,861, down from 9,696 units at $89,140 on Thursday. Trading for the month to date ended with an average of 12,077 shares at $98,177 compared to 12,355 units at $100,898 on the previous day and an average of 73,891 stock units at $397,305 for September.
The Composite Index gained 0.28 points to end at 999.19, the All T&T Index lost 2.54 points to finish at 1,401.68, the SME Index remained unchanged at 73.61 and the Cross-Listed Index rose 0.47 points to close at 79.74.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows seven stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close of Friday’s trading session, Agostini lost $1.05 and ended at a 52 weeks low of $43.95 with 1,525 shares crossing the market, Ansa McAl closed at $42.01 with a transfer of 25 units, AS Bryden fell 15 cents to end at $1 following a transfer of 23,245 shares. CIBC Caribbean Bank remained at $8.15 with 4 stock units changing hands, Endeavour Holdings stayed at $12.75 with investors swapping just 2 shares, First Citizens Group skidded by 50 cents and ended at $37 in an exchange of 1,329 stocks. GraceKennedy fell 5 cents to $3.70 with investors trading 112 units, Guardian Holdings gained 60 cents in closing at $17.50 with 75 stock units passing through the market, JMMB Group popped 8 cents and settled at 89 cents with a transfer of 270 shares. Massy Holdings ended at $3.30 with 7,639 stock units crossing the exchange, National Enterprises dipped 15 cents to finish at $5.40 with investors trading 25,184 units, National Flour Mills finished at $1.64 with an exchange of 670 stocks. NCB Financial remained at $3.20 with 95 units crossing the market, Point Lisas stopped at $7.31 as investors exchanged 57 stocks, Prestige Holdings climbed 30 cents to $12.30 after trading of 20 shares. Republic Financial rose $1 to $114 with 1,546 stock units clearing the market, Trinidad & Tobago NGL shed 5 cents to close at $9.95 with investors dealing in 21,885 shares, Trinidad Cement rallied 1 cent to end at $2 after an exchange of 36,295 stock units. Unilever Caribbean remained at $15.40 after a transfer of 181 stocks and West Indian Traders remained at $2.13, with ownership of 340 shares being switched.
Prices of securities trading are those of the last transaction.

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Jamaican Teas leads Junior Market trading


The Junior Market ended with a solid bounce, pushing the market index above 3,200 points, at the close, the highest since the start of May this year. The market effectively clawed back two thirds of this year’s loss. Trading ended Thursday, with a 189 percent jump in volume and a 235 percent surge in value, compared with Wednesday. A total of 41 securities traded, compared to 40 on Wednesday, with 15 rising, 13 declining and 13 closing unchanged.

Trading ended with 14,007,097 shares changing hands for $26,566,861, after climbing from a mere 4,854,941 units at $7,919,796 on Wednesday.
Trading activity ended with an average of 341,637 shares at $647,972, after increasing from 121,374 stock units at $197,995 on Wednesday. Trading for the month to date, averages 453,347 units at $835,441, in alignment with 459,093 stock units at $845,085 on Wednesday at an average of 324,023 shares at $544,060 for September.
Jamaican Teas led trading with 3.08 million shares for 22 percent of total volume followed by Mailpac Group with 2.21 million stocks for 15.8 percent of the day’s trade, Fosrich closed with 2.01 million stocks for 14.3 percent of the volume traded, ONE on ONE Educational ended with 1.38 million units for 9.9 percent of the volume traded and Lumber Depot with 1.15 million units for 8.2 percent of market share.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index advanced 53.30 points to end at 3,209.69. The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows four stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.2. ICInsider.com computes the PE ratios derived by dividing the last traded stock price by earnings per share for companies with the fiscal years ending around August 2027.
At the close of trading, AMG Packaging shed 6 cents to close at $1.75 after an exchange of 1,591 stock units, Caribbean Cream rose 98 cents to finish at $4.83, with 1,953 shares passing through the market, Consolidated Bakeries fell 15 cents and ended at $1.40 after trading of 392 stocks. Dolla Financial dropped 8 cents to $3.66 with an exchange of 211,861 units, Dolphin Cove climbed 77 cents in closing at $10.13 with 911 stocks clearing the market, Fontana rose 9 cents and ended at $6.49 with a transfer of 20,378 shares. Fosrich gained 15 cents to close at $1.55 in trading 2,006,350 stock units, Honey Bun lost 15 cents in closing at $7 with 5,839 units crossing the exchange, Image Plus slipped 10 cents to finish at $1.49 with investors trading 183,275 stocks. ISP Finance jumped $2.47 to end at $12.35 in an exchange of 640 shares, Jamaican Teas fell 13 cents in closing at $2.05 with 3,075,458 units crossing the market, Lasco Financial rallied 6 cents to end at $1.57 as investors exchanged 30,620 stock units. Lumber Depot dipped by 15 cents and ended at $2.51 with a transfer of 1,154,333 shares, Mailpac Group advanced 5 cents to finish at $2.36 with 2,207,001 stock units crossing the market, ONE on ONE Educational rose 8 cents to close at 80 cents in an exchange of 1,384,263 units. Paramount Trading climbed 20 cents to end at $1.03 with 3,000 stocks changing hands, Regency Petroleum popped 13 cents in closing at $4.21 after a transfer of 160,967 shares and Stationery and Office Supplies rallied 6 cents to $1.65 in switching ownership of 810,910 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those of the last transaction.

Trading slips on the T&T Stock Exchange


Trading activity fell on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange on Thursday, with the volume of stocks traded dropping 58 percent and the value falling by 34 percent compared to Wednesday, following trading in 25 securities, similar to Wednesday and ending with prices of seven rising, seven declining and 11 ended firm.

The market closed with trading of 242,403 shares worth $2,228,500 after tumbling from 583,508 stock units at $3,388,620 on Wednesday.
An average of 9,696 shares were traded at $89,140 after sliding from 23,340 stock units at $135,545 on Wednesday. Trading for the month to date averages 12,355 shares at $100,898 in alignment with 12,517 units at $101,613 on the previous day but lower than an average of 73,891 shares valued $397,305 for September.
The Composite Index slipped 6.58 points to 998.91, the All T&T Index dipped by 9.71 points to 1,404.22, the SME Index remained unchanged at 73.61 and the Cross-Listed Index lost 0.45 points to close at 79.27.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows five stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close of Thursday’s trading, Agostini ended at $45 with 641 stock units changing hands, Angostura Holdings remained at $10.35 with a transfer of 390 shares, Ansa McAl dropped $2.99 to finish at $42.01 in an exchange of 46 units. Ansa Merchant Bank increased $3.49 to close at $28.50 after trading of 3 stocks, AS Bryden climbed 15 cents to end at $1.15 in an exchange of a mere one unit, CIBC Caribbean Bank popped 1 cent in closing at $8.15 with 981 stocks crossing the market. Endeavour Holdings advanced 5 cents to finish at $12.75 with an exchange of 11 shares, Eric Solis Marketing closed at $5.57 with 21 stock units crossing the market, First Citizens Group ended at $37.50 in switching ownership of 7,240 shares. GraceKennedy rose 5 cents to close at $3.75 with 38 stocks crossing the exchange, Guardian Holdings skidded by 60 cents to end at $16.90 with investors trading 2,924 units, Guardian Media remained at 75 cents after a transfer of 51,000 stock units. JMMB Group ended at 81 cents in trading 403 shares, L.J. Williams B share gained 11 cents in closing at 86 cents with 3 units passing through the market, Massy Holdings ended at $3.30 with investors trading 130,981 stocks. Medcorp fell 1 cent after closing at $43.74 with with 10 stock units clearing the market, National Enterprises remained at $5.55 with investors swapping 56 shares, National Flour Mills slipped 1 cent and ended at $1.64 after an exchange of 906 stock units. NCB Financial lost 5 cents to end at $3.20 with a transfer of 3,254 units, Point Lisas ended at $7.31 after an exchange of 754 stocks, Republic Financial shed $1 and ended at $113 with investors dealing in 9,600 units. Scotiabank rallied 95 cents to end at $49 as investors exchanged 600 shares, Trinidad & Tobago NGL declined by 15 cents, after closing at $10 with 12,603 stock units clearing the market, Unilever Caribbean remained at $15.40 after trading of 5,295 stocks and West Indian Tobacco ended at $3.85 with 14,642 units crossing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those of the last transaction.

Trading inches higher on JSE Junior Market


Trading picked up modestly on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Junior Market on Wednesday, with a modest increase in trading over Tuesday’s levels, following an exchange of 40 securities down from 45 on Tuesday, with 15 rising, 16 declining and nine closing unchanged.

The market closed with trading of 4,854,941 shares for $7,919,796, up from 4,582,347 stock units at $7,908,126 on Tuesday.
Trading closed with an average of 121,374 shares at $197,995, up from 101,830 stock units at $175,736 at close on Tuesday. Trading for the month to date, averaged 459,093 stock units at $845,085 following 476,938 stock units at $879,278 on the previous day but well above an average of 324,023 shares at $544,060 for September.
On a day of low trading, no stock traded a million shares, Atlantic Hardware leading trading with 646,809 shares for 13.3 percent of total volume, followed by Woodcats International with 538,946 units for 11.1 percent of the day’s trade and Derrimon Trading with 536,697 stocks for 11.1 percent of the volume traded.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index dipped by 4.47 points to wrap up trading at 3,156.39. The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows nine stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and none with a lower offer.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 11.7. ICInsider.com computes the PE ratios derived by dividing the last traded stock price by earnings per share for companies with the fiscal years ending around August 2027.
At the close of trading, CAC 2000 slipped 8 cents and ended at 70 cents with 876 shares changing hands, Caribbean Cream dropped $1.11 to finish at $3.85 with 43,513 stocks passing through the market, Dolla Financial increased 10 cents and ended at $3.74 after an exchange of 12,391 shares. Dolphin Cove dropped 78 cents in closing at $9.36 after switching ownership of 11,281 stock units, Elite Diagnostic popped 5 cents and settled at $1.82 with a transfer of 89,653 shares, Fontana gained 7 cents in closing at $6.40 with 112,300 stocks crossing the market. Fosrich declined by 18 cents and ended at $1.40 in an exchange of 455,991 units, Honey Bun shed 9 cents to close at $7.15 with 15,745 stock units changing hands, Image Plus rose 6 cents to end at $1.59 with a transfer of 73,073 shares. Knutsford Express climbed 36 cents to finish at $8.51 after an exchange of 1,387 stocks, Lasco Financial dipped by 16 cents and ended at $1.51 with investors dealing in 652 units, Paramount Trading fell 7 cents in closing at 83 cents after an exchange of 216,824 stock units and Regency Petroleum skidded by 6 cents to end at $4.08 in trading 43,856 shares.

Prices of securities trading are those of the last transaction.

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Trading surges on the T&T Stock Exchange


Trading jumped sharply on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange on Wednesday with investors swapping 332 percent more shares, valued 149 percent more than on Tuesday following trading in 25 securities up from 21 on Tuesday and ending with prices of seven rising, five declining,13 ending firm.

The market closed with an exchange of 583,508 shares worth $3,388,620, up from 134,988 stocks $1,358,532 on Tuesday.
An average of 23,340 shares were traded at $135,545 compared to 6,428 units at $64,692 on Tuesday. Trading for the month to date averages 12,517 shares at $101,613 after rising from 11,816 units at $99,416 on Tuesday and an average of 73,891 shares at $397,305 for September.
The Composite Index popped 4.69 points to close at 1,005.49, the All T&T Index rose 11.38 points to 1,413.93, the SME Index climbed 1.96 points to 73.61 and the Cross-Listed Index slipped 0.37 points to settle at 79.72.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows five stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close of trading, Agostini remained at $45 with investors dealing in 1,408 stock units, Angostura Holdings ended at $10.35 with a transfer of 4,929 shares, Ansa McAl ended at $45 with investors swapping 394 units. AS Bryden lost 10 cents to close at $1 after an exchange of 1,702 stocks, CIBC Caribbean Bank dipped by 1 cent to $8.14 in trading 3,000 shares, Endeavour Holdings climbed by 70 cents and ended at $12.70 in swapping 1,900 stock units. First Citizens Group ended at $37.50 following trading of 18,836 shares, GraceKennedy fell 15 cents in closing at $3.70 with 2,590 stock units passing through the market, Guardian Holdings remained at $17.50 after a transfer of 5,850 shares. Guardian Media ended at 75 cents as investors exchanged 409,816 stock units, JMMB Group rose 3 cents in closing at 81 cents after trading of 12 stocks, L.J. Williams B share ended at 75 cents with 600 units clearing the market. Massy Holdings remained at $3.30 with investors trading 1,458 stocks, Medcorp rallied 1 cent to close at a 52 weeks high of $43.75 after an exchange of a mere one unit, National Enterprises remained at $5.55 in trading 295 shares. National Flour Mills ended at $1.65 with 23,281 stock units crossing the exchange, NCB Financial ended at $3.25 with a transfer of 2,385 shares, One Caribbean Media remained at $1.50 with 208 stock units crossing the market. Republic Financial gained 1 cent to finish at $114 with an exchange of 10,029 units, Scotiabank jumped 99 cents and ended at $48.05 after the swapping of 241 shares, Trinidad & Tobago NGL gained 25 cents in closing at $10.15 with investors trading 81,338 shares. Trinidad Cement skidded by 1 cent to finish at $1.99 in an exchange of 74 stocks, Unilever Caribbean remained at $15.40 with 823 units crossing the market, West Indian Tobacco dropped 15 cents to close at $3.85 with investors trading 12,300 stock units and West Indian Traders advanced 3 cents to end at a 52 weeks high of $2.13 with 38 shares crossing the exchange.
Prices of securities trading are those of the last transaction.

Rising stocks outclass losers on T&TSE


Rising stocks dominated trading by a wide margin on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange on Tuesday after sluggish activity that ended, with the volume of stocks traded dropping 56 percent, with a 25 percent slippage in value compared with Monday, with an exchange 21 securities, down from 22 on Monday and ending with prices of 11 stocks rising, only two declining and eight ending firm.

The market closed with trading of 134,988 shares for $1,358,532 after falling from 304,666 stock units at $1,820,978 on Monday.
An average of 6,428 shares were exchanged at $64,692, down from 13,848 units at $82,772 on Monday. Trading month to date ended with averages 11,816 shares at $99,416 after slipping from 12,126 units at $101,414 on the previous day and well below the average of 73,891 shares at $397,305 for September.
The Composite Index rallied 0.60 points to settle at 1,000.80, the All T&T Index shed 0.39 points to end at 1,402.55, the SME Index remained unchanged at 71.65 and the Cross-Listed Index advanced 0.24 points to 80.09.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows four stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and none with a lower offer.
At the close of Tuesday’s trading, Agostini remained at $45 after trading of 651 shares, Angostura Holdings ended at $10.35 in an exchange of 10 units, Ansa McAl increased $3.75 and settled at $45 with 204 shares changing hands.

AS Bryden finished at $1.10 with an exchange of 15 stocks, CIBC Caribbean Bank rallied 1 cent to $8.15 with 2,890 shares crossing the market, First Citizens Group rose 48 cents to $37.50 in trading 9,889 shares. GraceKennedy lost 5 cents to end at $3.85 after an exchange of 3 stocks, Guardian Holdings ended at $17.50 with trading 446 units, JMMB Group climbed 3 cents and ended at 78 cents in an exchange of 8,500 stocks. Massy Holdings gained 5 cents to close at $3.30 with 47,571 units clearing the market, National Enterprises advanced 20 cents to close at $5.55 as investors exchanged 14,123 shares, National Flour Mills remained at $1.65 after a transfer of 44 stock units. NCB Financial remained at $3.25 with 234 shares crossing the exchange, One Caribbean Media declined by 24 cents to finish at $1.50 with a transfer of 1,961 stocks, Prestige Holdings rose $1 and ended at $12 after an exchange of 890 units. Republic Financial rallied $1.48 to $113.99 in trading 2,285 stock units, Scotiabank ended at $48.02 with 1,106 shares crossing the market, Trinidad & Tobago NGL increased 31 cents to $9.90 with an exchange of 34,000 units. Trinidad Cement popped 1 cent in closing at $2 with 10,000 stocks passing through the market, Unilever Caribbean ended at $15.40 with investors trading 116 stock units and West Indian Tobacco remained at $4 with investors trading 50 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those of the last transaction.

Record remittances inflows to Jamaica


Remittances into Jamaica reached a record $2.42 billion in the first eight months of 2026, up 5.3 percent over the similar period in 2025, after climbing 9.3 percent in August to US$315 million. the country previous highest inflows for the first eight months was US$2,3 billion in 2021, some US$465 million more than the same period in 2020.

According to the data released by the Bank of Jamaica, this year’s inflows are US$122.7 million more than the US$2.299 billion gross inflows into the country for the same period last year.
The country is set to earn US$3.7 billion if growth in gross inflows continues for the remaining months of the year, or 5.8 percent more than the record haul of US$3.497 billion in 2021, the first year, inflows exceeded US$3 billion and US$215 million more than in 2026.
Remittances remain the second-largest source of foreign exchange inflows into the economy, with tourism being the highest.

The 2026 growth was broadly in line with that recorded in Guatemala, up 5.4 percent, but exceeded the rates of growth in El Salvador 4.0 percent and Mexico 2.2 percent, Bank of Jamaica reported.