Performance in 2007: Paraguay posted the biggest year-on-year increase in exports among Latin American countries, soaring 63.2% from 2006, mostly on the strength of soybean exports.
Other countries registered strong increases, including Chile (19.5%), Argentina (17.6%), Nicaragua (17.3%), Guatemala (16.7%), Brazil (16.5%), Peru (16.5%), Colombia (15.5%) and Costa Rica (14.3%).
The smallest increases were seen in Mexico (6.6%), El Salvador (5.9%) and Ecuador (1.4%). Venezuela's global exports decreased 2.5%, even though sales to its former Andean Community partners grew 13.7%.
Exports among countries belonging to the same trade pacts also posted strong increases in 2007. Exports among members of the Central American Common Market rose 18% while exports among members of Mercosur increased 27%. Andean Community intra-regional exports increased 12%. Overall exports among Latin American countries grew 18% from 2006 to US$124 billion.