Latin American Economy & Business

Economy & Business - August 2022

With the election of Gustavo Petro as Colombia’s president on 19 June, shivers ran down the spine of many an investor.

Economy & Business - July 2022

Click here for full report

LEADER
- Rehashed environmental plans miss the mark in Mexico
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- COLOMBIA: President-elect Petro’s green pledges face political tests
- VENEZUELA: Maduro seeks stronger partnerships in the Middle East
- ECUADOR: Lasso forced into U-turns on subsidies, oil and mining
- ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- URUGUAY: Strong Q1 growth but risks ahead
- ARGENTINA: IMF on another roller-coaster ride
- BRAZIL: Electoral pump priming
- REGION: Brazil and Uruguay push for lower tariffs in Mercosur
- CHILE: Mining companies fret over new constitution
- ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS
CENTRAL AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
- GUATEMALA: Positive economic assessments, but problems on the ground
- REGION: Summit of the Americas fails to live up to promises
- HAITI: Gangs add to Haiti's economic troubles
- BARBADOS: Georgieva plays good cop in Barbados
- ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS
MEXICO & USMCA
- MEXICO: US economic crisis threatens remittances to Mexico
- MEXICO: Start-ups thrive in Mexico
- ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS

Mexico’s President Andrés Manuel López Obrador recently unveiled a package of ten measures aimed at addressing the global climate emergency.

Economy & Business - June 2022

Click here for full report

LEADER
- Big promises on privatisations in Brazil, but where’s the beef?
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- VENEZUELA: More market reforms as gov’t announces share float in state companies
- BOLIVIA: Hoping to renegotiate Brazil’s gas supply contract
- ECUADOR: Under pressure to increase public investment
- ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- BRAZIL: Behind the bromance: Musk meets Bolsonaro
- CHILE: Boric taps out his economic policy headlines
- URUGUAY: Renewables on Lacalle Pou-Johnson agenda
- ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS
CENTRAL AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
- EL SALVADOR: Bukele doubles down but bitcoin difficulties become clearer
- NICARAGUA: More cooperation with Iran and China as US sanctions bite
- CUBA: Promised economic recovery looks set to disappoint
- DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: IMF impressed by economic resilience
- ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS
MEXICO & USMCA
- MEXICO: Investment package aims to speed up border crossings
- MEXICO: US postpones Mexico’s air safety review
- MEXICO: Employment shows partial pandemic recovery
- MEXICO: Free trade remains cornerstone of economic policy
- ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS

On 1 January 2019, the day he took office three and a half years ago, Paulo Guedes, Brazil’s ‘super minister’ for the economy, announced a right-wing revolution.

Economy & Business - May 2022

Click here for full report

LEADER
- As Castillo flounders, Peru’s economy switches to autopilot
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- VENEZUELA: Attempting to rein in dollarisation
- BOLIVIA: Tourism operators rail against Covid restrictions
- ECUADOR: Casting a wide net in search of trade agreements
- ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- BRAZIL: What is Lula’s economic policy?
- CHILE: Hard times for the Boric economy
- URUGUAY: Government prepares to surf the hydrogen wave
- ARGENTINA: Green light for Néstor Kirchner pipeline
- ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS
CENTRAL AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
- COSTA RICA: Chaves promises economic recovery
- REGION: “Exceptionally strong” growth in remittances, says new report
- REGION: Uncertainty piles on uncertainty
- ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS
MEXICO & USMCA
- MEXICO: Uncertainty remains despite electricity reform rejection
- MEXICO: Gov’t anti-inflation plan likely to have limited impact
- MEXICO: Slow progress for ambitious railway projects
- ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS

Peruvians have tired of President Pedro Castillo.

Economy & Business - April 2022

Click here for full report

LEADER
- Honduras’s Castro declares fiscal emergency as part of economic plan
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- VENEZUELA: Oil sanctions under the spotlight
- COLOMBIA: Opening the door to fracking?
- ECUADOR: Ukraine war brings mixed fortunes for exporters
- ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- ARGENTINA: IMF agreement done, but not dusted
- BRAZIL: Bolsonaro changes Petrobras leadership (again)
- CHILE: World’s first sovereign sustainability-linked bond launched
- URUGUAY: Referendum boosts economy but inflation worries persist
- ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS
CENTRAL AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
- REGION: Governments act to soften blow of rising fuel prices
- THE BAHAMAS: Strong recovery in 2021, but substantial risks still abound
- CARIBBEAN POINTERS
- ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS
MEXICO & USMCA
- MEXICO: New CDMX airport inaugurated but incomplete
- MEXICO: President sparks concerns over autonomy of Banxico
- MEXICO: Ukraine conflict to impact prices despite government’s reassurances
- MEXICO: Finance Minister confirms interest in cryptocurrencies
- ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS

Honduras’s new president, Xiomara Castro, has made dealing with public finances a priority in the first few months of her leftist Partido Libertad y Refundación (Libre) government, moving to enable more borrowing by declaring a fiscal emergency in mid-February.

Economy & Business - March 2022

Click here for full report

LEADER
- President’s discourse limits investment prospects in Mexico
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- PERU: Oil spill fallout highlights weakening environmental law enforcement
- BOLIVIA: Sustainable progress on poverty?
- ECUADOR: Closer to balancing the books
- ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- REGION: Getting ready for crypto
- BRAZIL: The Ukraine factor
- BRAZIL: Here come the vertical taxis
- PARAGUAY: Historic drought clouds the economic outlook
- URUGUAY: Progress on diversification
- ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS
CENTRAL AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
- NICARAGUA: Deepening ties with Russia amid increasing international isolation
- REGION: Working together to boost regional tourism
- REGION: A busy month in the Caribbean for IMF
- ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS
MEXICO & USMCA
- MEXICO: Energy reform reflects wider lack of interest in climate
- MEXICO: Independent unions likely to remain the exception
- MEXICO: Organised crime threatens avocado exports
- ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS

Foreign direct investment (FDI) net flows to Mexico totalled US$31.6bn in 2021, according to preliminary figures released by Mexico’s economy ministry (SE) on 21 February.

Economy & Business - February 2022

Click here for full report

LEADER
- Done deal in Argentina… or not?
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- PERU: PetroPerú to recommence oil production amid political upheaval
- REGION: Mixed fortunes in the struggle against inflation
- ECUADOR: Lasso’s investment drive facing major obstacles
- ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- BRAZIL: Itapemirim grounded after six months
- REGION: Argentina, Brazil, and Peru seek membership of OECD
- CHILE: Boric’s Atacama lithium dilemma
- ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS
CENTRAL AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
- PANAMA: State to earn more from controversial mine under new deal
- GUATEMALA: Giammattei claims progress but headline figures hide issues
- GUYANA: Oil boosts Guyana’s budget by 37%
- CARIBBEAN POINTERS
- ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS
MEXICO & USMCA
- MEXICO: Citibanamex sale welcomed despite uncertainties
- MEXICO: Record foreign capital outflows set to continue in 2022
- MEXICO: Fuel self-sufficiency distant despite US refinery purchase
- MEXICO: Inflation in agricultural products likely to boost exports
- ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS

On 28 January, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Argentina said they had reached an “understanding” on key elements of an economic stabilisation programme needed to avert the risk of default.

Economy & Business - January 2022

Click here for full report

LEADER
- Nicaragua joins growing list of nations ditching Taiwan for China
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- BOLIVIA: Looking to become a major player in green energy
- ECUADOR: Fiscal outlook improves with passage of tax reform
- PERU: Playing it safe with the 2022 budget
- ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- CHILE: Boric’s economic challenge
- BRAZIL: Mixed picture for 2022
- BRAZIL: Nubank takes off
- ARGENTINA: The clock is ticking
- ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS
CENTRAL AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
- REGION: Coffee industry issues fuelling migration
- SURINAME: Time of the essence as Suriname gains support from IMF and IDB
- CARIBBEAN POINTERS
- ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS
MEXICO & USMCA
- MEXICO: New Banxico governor takes office
- MEXICO: New report suggests recovery of tourism sector
- MEXICO: Gov’t threatens action over proposed US electric vehicle subsidy
- MEXICO: New data shows pandemic impact on informal economy
- MEXICO: Gov’t efforts to rescue Pemex unlikely to be effective
- ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS

Nicaragua has become the latest Central American nation to end relations with Taiwan in favour of recognising China, and, if previous moves by neighbouring countries are anything to go by, it can expect a wave of investment from Beijing in return.