Latin American & Caribbean exports rise 6.4% in 2025

The value of goods exported from Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) grew an estimated 6.4 per cent in 2025, an improvement over the 4.7 per cent increase recorded in 2024, according to the latest report from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
The growth was fuelled primarily by higher export volumes, while prices showed only modest gains. Metals – including gold, copper and silver – led the surge, alongside strong performance in the agro-industrial sector, with notable gains in coffee, cocoa, fruit and meat. Certain manufacturing sectors also contributed, including data-processing machinery, medical supplies, vehicles and plastics.
“Despite the challenging global environment, Latin America and the Caribbean’s recent export performance has shown remarkable resilience,” said Paolo Giordano, Principal Economist in the IDB’s Productivity, Trade and Innovation Sector, who coordinated the report. The analysis suggests the region may be entering a period of sustained trade growth, though risks remain tilted slightly to the downside amid ongoing global uncertainty. The report emphasises that countries must implement reforms and attract investment to boost productivity and competitiveness, reduce trade costs and support exports to ensure trade continues to drive economic growth.
All subregions recorded export growth, although the pace and drivers varied. In South America, exports grew an estimated 5.1 per cent in 2025, up from 4.4 per cent in 2024, with stronger volumes in the second half of the year. Key markets contributing to the increase included Asia, the European Union (EU) and intra-regional trade.
Mesoamerica saw exports accelerate sharply to 7.2 per cent, nearly doubling the 3.8 per cent growth of the previous year. Central America posted strong average growth of 11.5 per cent after a flat 2024, although momentum eased in the latter half of the year. Mexico’s exports grew 6.6 per cent, driven largely by higher volumes.
In the Caribbean, growth slowed but remained positive, rising 14.6 per cent in 2025 compared with a 41.2 per cent surge in 2024. The expansion was highly volatile and concentrated in a few countries. Total imports in the region also picked up, rising 6.1 per cent in 2025, up from 3.2 per cent in 2024, reflecting a rebound in domestic demand and global trade trends. Commodity prices were mixed: coffee surged nearly 50 per cent year-on-year, while soybean and sugar prices fell 6.7 per cent and 17.4 per cent, respectively. Among metals, gold prices climbed 42.2 per cent and copper 12.9 per cent, whereas iron ore and oil prices dropped 7.8 per cent and 14.3 per cent, respectively, between January and November.(CNW)