Latin American economies show varied growth in exports and knowledge sectors

Various Latin American economies are showing divergent trends in exports and sector-specific growth.

In Argentina, the knowledge-based services sector is expanding. Entre Ríos projects annual exports of $56 million following a 10% year-on-year increase in the first quarter of 2026. Meanwhile, Tucumán has established itself as a regional leader in the knowledge economy, contributing approximately $800 million annually and employing roughly 3,000 people. Nationally, Argentina's knowledge-based exports have surpassed $10 billion. Additionally, Argentine total exports rose 24.6% in the first half of 2026, driven by soy and petroleum complexes.

Ecuador reported an 8.3% growth in exports during the second quarter of 2026, reaching $10.177 billion. This was fueled by a 36.9% increase in oil exports due to higher international prices, and record shrimp exports. However, the trade surplus decreased compared to 2025 as imports grew faster than exports. Business confidence in Ecuador also rose in July, with the Economic Expectation Index reaching 56.2 points.

In Mexico, the GDP grew by 1.4% in the second quarter of 2026. While tertiary activities and agriculture saw growth, the industrial sector experienced a 1.2% decline. In the state of Sonora, labor poverty reached a decade low of 22.5%, accompanied by a significant increase in real per capita labor income.