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Commodity price volatility and regional growth

Latin America and the Caribbean remain highly sensitive to swings in global commodity markets, with price volatility directly shaping growth prospects across the region. Countries dependent on oil, copper, soybeans, and coffee face particular challenges as shifting demand from China, tighter global financial conditions, and supply chain disruptions drive unpredictable price cycles. Economists note that while commodity booms can accelerate growth and fiscal revenues, downturns expose structural vulnerabilities, widening fiscal deficits and dampening investment.

By James Parker
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Massive fire at Louisiana automotive supply facility forces evacuations

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — An explosion and fire Friday at an automotive supply company in southeast Louisiana sent flames into the air and a tower of thick black smoke billowed above rural communities, forcing nearby residents and an elementary school to evacuate. Officials said no injuries have been reported in the fire at Smitty’s Supply just north of the town of Roseland, but that everyone living within a one-mile (1.6-kilometer) radius must evacuate. Roseland, which is home to around 1,100 people, is about 50 miles (80 kilometers) northeast of Baton Rouge.

Tangipahoa Parish President Robby Miller said it’s “godsend” that no one has been injured.

“We are doing our best to protect people, structures and the environment,” Miller told reporters during a news conference Friday afternoon, as crews reached their third hour of trying to extinguish the inferno.

An explosion and fire at an automotive supply company in southeast Louisiana forced nearby residents and an elementary school to evacuate.

Oil Exporters in the Caribbean and Venezuela.

Oil-dependent economies such as Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela are experiencing fiscal fluctuations tied to global crude prices. Rising prices provide a temporary cushion for export revenues, yet volatility makes long-term planning and debt management difficult. For Venezuela, sanctions and production declines amplify these risks.

Agricultural Exports and Climate Risks

Brazil, Argentina, and Central American economies reliant on soybeans, coffee, and bananas are contending with climate-related shocks alongside global price swings. Droughts in Brazil and Argentina have tightened supply, while fluctuating prices have created uncertainty for farmers and exporters, with knock-on effects for employment and rural development.

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    • “The coca leaf allows us to send our children to school and put food on the table,” said Zavala, who relies on harvesting coca leaves for income. “It’s useful for everything.”

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