The value of goods exported from Latin America and the Caribbean grew an estimated 6.4% in 2025, an improvement over the 4.7% increase recorded in 2024, according to the latest report from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
The growth was fueled 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 emphasizes 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.
Subregional Performance
All subregions recorded export growth, although the pace and drivers varied. In South America, exports grew an estimated 5.1% in 2025, up from 4.4% in 2024, with stronger volumes in the second half of the year. Key markets contributing to the increase included Asia, the European Union, and intra-regional trade.
Mesoamerica saw exports accelerate sharply to 7.2%, nearly doubling the 3.8% growth of the previous year. Central America posted strong average growth of 11.5% after a flat 2024, although momentum eased in the latter half of the year. Mexico’s exports grew 6.6%, driven largely by higher volumes.
In the Caribbean, growth slowed but remained positive, rising 14.6% in 2025 compared with a 41.2% surge in 2024. The expansion was highly volatile and concentrated in a few countries.
Import Trends and Commodity Prices
Total imports in the region also picked up, rising 6.1% in 2025, up from 3.2% in 2024, reflecting a rebound in domestic demand and global trade trends.
Commodity prices were mixed: coffee surged nearly 50% year-on-year, while soybean and sugar prices fell 6.7% and 17.4%, respectively. Among metals, gold prices climbed 42.2% and copper 12.9%, whereas iron ore and oil prices dropped 7.8% and 14.3%, respectively, between January and November.
