Bolivia and Dominican Republic grapple with soaring transport costs and fuel shortages

In Bolivia, a sharp rise in the parallel‑market dollar and persistent diesel shortages are straining the transport sector. Higher import prices for tyres, filters, brakes and other essential parts are raising maintenance costs, while queues for diesel are leaving hundreds of heavy‑duty vehicles idle. The slowdown threatens the supply of food, medicines and industrial inputs, feeding broader price inflation for consumers.

In the Dominican Republic, repeated fare hikes on public buses and minibuses—sometimes adding 3 to 5 pesos per trip—are pushing low‑income commuters to incur extra monthly expenses of up to 900 pesos. Riders report cutting meals and taking on debt to afford transport, with economist Winston Marte noting that each extra peso on the fare translates into a missed meal. The fare increases coincide with a broader rise in the consumer price index reported by the Central Bank, amplifying household financial stress.