Find Industry and Manufacturing expertise in Jamaica

Jamaica’s manufacturing industry is dominated by agro processing and light manufacturing and has been identified as a key area for growth by the Jamaican government. Manufacturing contributes around 8.4% of Jamaica’s GDP (2008) and employs about 6% of the population (2007). The CIA estimates that in 2010 the manufacturing sector was in decline, falling by 2%. Key sectors in Jamaica’s manufacturing industry include agro processing, light manufactures, rum, cement, metal, paper and chemical products.

Some of the main companies operational in Jamaica include Jamaica Fibreglass, Millwood Industries Ltd, Caldoors, Jamaica Producers Group LTD and Red Stripe Beer.

The World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness Report (2012-2013) describes these manufacturing activities as moderately sophisticated. It scores 3.3 out of 7 in production process sophistication where 1 indicates labour intensive methods where the use previous generation technology prevails and 7 indicates the best and most efficient process technology prevails. Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago score similarly but slightly above Jamaica, scoring 4.0 and 3.9 respectively, showing that levels of production sophistication are comparable across the region.

The Jamaican Government has several incentives in place to encourage new investment in the manufacturing sector. The Export Industry Encouragement Act offers ten years’ income tax relief to qualifying firms, plus exemptions on duty for imported machinery and raw materials. Companies can also apply for income tax relief on profits and for exemption from import duties and licensing under the Jamaica Export Free Zone Act.

Although sugar is produced in many Caribbean countries, stiff competition between them is tempered by the fact that the English speaking Caribbean countries are members of the Sugar Association of the Caribbean (SAC) which represents all their interests in the international export market.

Industry and Manufacturing organisations in Jamaica
Adduci Cigars
Agri Industrial Packaging Ltd
Alcor Windows & Doors
Amber Estate
Banyan Creations Ltd
Benjamins
Big City Brewing Co.
Boss Furniture
Caldoors
Caribbean Cement Co. Ltd
Century Eslon
Checker International Ltd
Chippies
Diamond Paint MFG Co. Ltd
Donaldson's Engineering Ltd
Easy Squeezer
EdgeChem Jamaica Ltd
Exquisite Wicker
FlexPak Ltd
Free Form Factory
Goodyear Jamaica Ltd
H.D. Hopwood & Co. Ltd
Jam Row
Jamaica Fibreglass Ltd
Jamaica Packaging
Jamaica Producers Group Ltd
JHA Associates Ltd
Jumbolon Ltd
KS Chemical Distributors Ltd
Lascelles Ltd
Lasco Jamaica Ltd
Leder Mode Jamaica Ltd
Millwoods Industries Ltd
Ministry of Industry, Commerce & Investment
Niche Caribbean
Nicorp Ltd
Old Tavern Coffee Estate
Omni Industries Ltd
Original Bamboo Factory
Paramount Chemicals
Petrojam Ltd
Ramson's
Sanmerna Paper Products Ltd
Spotlight Candle Products
Taylor's Wood Products
Unique Wicker
Virginia Dare Jamaica Ltd
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