Bolivia: Trade Partnerships

Bolivia's economy remains closely shaped by its landlocked geography. After losing its Pacific coastline to Chile in the War of the Pacific (1879-1884), the country has depended on Chilean and, increasingly, Peruvian ports to move goods to global markets, along with river routes toward the Atlantic. Natural gas, minerals such as zinc, silver, tin, and gold, and agricultural products including soybeans and quinoa make up the bulk of Bolivia's exports, while the country imports machinery, refined petroleum, vehicles, and other manufactured goods it does not produce domestically.

As of 2022, the most recent year with comprehensive trade data, India, Brazil, and Argentina ranked as Bolivia's top export destinations, together purchasing more than 40 percent of the country's outbound goods, according to World Bank trade statistics. On the import side, China and Brazil were the leading suppliers, followed closely by Argentina and Chile, reflecting Bolivia's deep commercial ties to its South American neighbors alongside a growing Chinese presence. That presence has extended into Bolivia's lithium sector, where Chinese firms have signed major investment deals, though Bolivian courts have at times suspended such agreements pending legal review.

Bolivia's regional integration deepened in July 2024, when it completed the process of becoming a full member state of Mercosur after more than two decades as an associate, joining Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay in the bloc. It also remains a founding member of the Andean Community alongside Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. As of September 2026, trade relations with the United States were improving under the administration of President Rodrigo Paz, who took office in November 2025 and moved to restore ambassador-level diplomatic ties that had been downgraded since 2008.