Exports across Latin America and the Caribbean increased by 19.5 per cent year-on-year during the first half of 2026, according to a new report from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
The increase exceeded the 14.5 per cent growth recorded in global trade during the same period, highlighting the region’s growing participation in international markets.
The IDB attributed the strong performance partly to higher prices for oil and other commodities, alongside increasing demand for infrastructure associated with artificial intelligence.
Caribbean export growth reached 19.1 per cent, driven largely by developments in Guyana and Suriname, particularly within the energy and mining sectors.
The bank said the region’s export performance presents an opportunity to attract additional foreign investment and strengthen economic development.
The report also highlighted the importance of establishing reliable regulatory frameworks that give investors confidence while allowing regional businesses to expand.
The United States remained an important destination for regional exports, with Latin America’s and the Caribbean’s share of US imports reaching a record 22.1 per cent during the first half of the year.
The findings underline the importance of strengthening trade relationships, expanding productive capacity and creating opportunities for Caribbean economies to benefit from international demand.
