Latin American trade shows mining growth amid agricultural shifts

Latin American export trends show a divergence between extractive industries and agricultural sectors.

In Colombia, total exports rose 15.1% in August to US$4,456.2 million, driven by a 127% surge in non-monetary gold and a 23.8% increase in fuels. However, agricultural, food, and beverage exports fell by 16%, largely due to declines in coffee and cocoa.

Peru reports strong performance in the mining and fruit sectors. Copper exports reached US$19,455 million in the first half of 2026, with China receiving 70% of shipments. Additionally, fruit and vegetable exports grew 14.9% between January and July, reaching US$3,929 million, led by avocados, grapes, and blueberries.

Paraguay's beef industry is experiencing a volume decline, with slaughter rates dropping 22.2% in September. Despite this, higher international prices have helped maintain revenue levels. Conversely, Paraguayan peanut exports are nearing record highs, projected to reach up to US$30 million by the end of 2026.

In Argentina, the mining sector recorded a US$543 million surplus in August, a 61.8% year-on-year increase. Meanwhile, the grain market shows mixed results, with significant volumes of soy remaining unpriced for sale.

Costa Rica saw a 3% growth in service exports during the first half of 2026, totaling over US$6,000 million, bolstered by business services and information technology.