The value of goods exports from Latin America and the Caribbean is expected to grow by 20% during 2026 , which would be its biggest increase since the post-pandemic recovery in 2021, according to the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) .
According to the report “International Trade Outlook for Latin America and the Caribbean 2026: The Importance of Modern Service Exports and How to Promote Them ,” this growth would be driven by an 11% increase in export prices and a 9% increase in trade volumes. However, performance would be uneven across subregions; while South America benefits from rising commodity prices, Mexico would stand out due to the dynamism of its manufactured exports .
On the import side, ECLAC projected a regional growth of 16% in value, resulting from a 12% increase in volumes and a 4% increase in prices, associated with the recovery of domestic consumption and greater demand for intermediate inputs and capital goods .
This behavior in merchandise trade is also reflected in services linked to its movement . The organization estimated that regional service exports will grow by 11% in 2026, driven by the recovery of transport and travel, as well as by the dynamism of modern services.
The analysis noted that trade in goods has increased demand for international logistics and transport services , while tourism has boosted travel exports, particularly in Central America and the Caribbean.
Even with these favorable prospects, ECLAC warned that international trade faces risks related to geopolitical tensions, disruptions in logistics routes and uncertainty in trade policies , in a context of reorganization of global value chains.
“The region faces significant challenges in an uncertain geopolitical environment. Geopolitical tensions, disruptions to logistics routes, and a lack of predictability in trade policy pose risks to trade,” emphasized José Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs, Executive Secretary of ECLAC.
The main image was generated using artificial intelligence.
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