China-LatAm Trade Set to Skyrocket

A report from Xinhua on May. 20th, 2025:

The steady advancement of the Belt and Road Initiative, coupled with a growing network of bilateral free trade agreements, will unlock fresh potential for trade and investment ties between China and Latin America in the years ahead, said market watchers and exporters on Monday.

As infrastructure connectivity improves under the BRI through enhanced port facilities, logistics networks and digital trade corridors, they said regional integration is advancing, reducing transportation costs and expanding access to global markets.

China is currently negotiating upgrades to the China-Peru FTA and discussing new FTAs with Panama and Honduras. Additionally, the nation has conducted a feasibility study on a China-Colombia FTA, aiming to strengthen bilateral trade and economic cooperation, according to information released by the Ministry of Commerce.

China’s direct investment flow to Latin America totaled $14.71 billion in 2024. During the first quarter of 2025, Chinese investment in the region reached $270 million. As of March 2025, Latin American countries had established a total of 37,000 businesses in China, data from the Ministry of Commerce showed.

China-Latin America trade volume reached a record high of $518.47 billion in 2024, up 6 percent year-on-year. Their total trade value stood at $162.21 billion between January and April, said the General Administration of Customs.