Latin America’s exports are set to grow 20% this year: is a new commodity boom on the horizon?

Despite a year marked by geopolitical uncertainty stemming from the war in the Middle East and the trade war between China and the U.S., recent data show that global trade has continued to grow. Global trade volumes expanded by more than 5% in the first half of 2026, according to the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), the United Nations body tasked with promoting economic development in the region. The figure is particularly significant because it more than double the 1.9% growth the World Trade Organization (WTO) had forecast for the entire year. “This…