The value of goods exports from Latin America and the Caribbean grew by 6,4% in 2025, following more moderate expansion in previous years, according to the latest report from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) published this Thursday (January 22, 2026). The acceleration of regional trade was mainly explained by the greater dynamism of the volumes exported, while prices showed only a marginal improvement.
According to the document, “despite the uncertainty surrounding changes in global trade policy, the region’s exports maintained, on average, a good performance throughout 2025.” However, the IDB warns that, while the improvement was widespread, the dynamics were heterogeneous among subregions and countries.
In terms of PricesThe report indicates that the The region's main exported commodities followed divergent trajectories over the past year. Among agricultural products, the café It continued to show an exceptional increase (49,9%), although with episodes of volatility linked to weather events and regulatory changes in the markets. In contrast, the prices of the soybean (-6,7%) and the sugar (-17,4%) continued to decline. In the extractive products segment, both the mineral of iron such as oil exhibited downward trends, while the copper (12,9%) and, especially, the oro (42,2%), maintained a marked expansive path.
The IDB estimates that in 2025 the rate of The variation in exports was positive, although more moderate and uneven between countries., compared to the strong rebound recorded in 2024. While some economies showed significant expansions—such as Peru (+ 20,0%), Suriname (+70,4%) and Panama (+44,9%)—, others registered more limited growth or a slowdown, such as Argentina (+8,1%), Brazil (+1,8%) and Colombia (+1,7%), configuring a scenario of uneven regional recovery after the strong setbacks of previous years.
In the specific case of ArgentinaThe report indicates that exports grew by 8,1% in 2025, after expanding by 19,0% in 2024, as part of the recovery following the 2023 drought. The slowdown was due to the lower growth rate of export volumes, which decreased from 26,3% to 8,4%, while export prices moderated their decline. In this context, the largest contribution to growth came from shipments to China, which accounted for 42% of the increase, followed by India, the United States, and less traditional destinations such as Switzerland, Angola, Iran, and Morocco. The products that contributed most to the increase were soybeans, fats and oils, and fuels.
Meanwhile, imports to the region also gained momentum, doubling their growth rate compared to the previous year, the IDB noted. However, the organization cautioned that, while there are signs of a more sustained recovery, the international context remains marked by high levels of uncertainty.
In this context, the IDB emphasizes “the need to advance structural reforms and channel investments that strengthen productivity and remove obstacles to trade, with the aim of ensuring that international integration continues to play a central role in the economic growth of Latin America and the Caribbean.”
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