Latin American exports realigning towards Asia, UN report finds

SANTIAGO, Oct 15 (Reuters) — Exports from Latin America and the Caribbean are increasingly headed to Asia, a United Nations report said on Thursday, as US President Donald Trump's expansive tariff policies have upended global commerce. Latin American "exports are undergoing a significant realignment in favor of Asian partners," the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) said in its regional outlook report Trade in goods and services in the region jumped during the first half of 2026, with exports up 18% year-on-year and imports up 13% ECLAC said the US remained one of the main drivers of export growth for Latin America and the Caribbean during the first half of 2026 Growing global demand for critical minerals and a reorganization of supply chains are an opportunity for Latin America to strengthen its international integration "The main challenge is not only to increase exports of raw materials, but also to use these resources to drive activities with greater added value, linked to innovation and technological development," the report said (Reporting by Fabian Cambero and Anthony Esposito; Editing by Paolo Laudani and Rosalba O'Brien) ((mailto:anthony.esp