Editor profile

Sofia Mendez

Editor, Infrastructure & Logistics

Sofia Mendez monitors large-scale infrastructure projects and logistics networks across the continent. She reports on port developments and the modernization of regional transport corridors.

sofia.mendez@latamreport.org

Bylined articles

Digital Latin America

Digital Credit Enters Brazil: How Fintech Partnerships Are Reshaping Latin America's Consumer Finance Landscape

Brazilian financial infrastructure unicorn QI Tech has partnered with Bettr, a subsidiary of Ant International, to launch embedded credit products for e-commerce sellers and consumers. This event marks a new phase in Latin America's digital finance: the combination of open finance, real-time payments, and cross-border technology is reshaping the regional consumer credit landscape.

Sofia Mendez5 min read
Regional Briefing

Venezuela's Governance Crisis as Seen Through Earthquake Response: Risk Signals Regional Investors Must Heed

The severe earthquake in Venezuela in July 2026 caused nearly 3,000 deaths, and the government's inadequate response sparked strong public dissatisfaction. This event is not only a humanitarian tragedy but also exposes deep cracks in the governance capacity of Latin American countries, sending a warning signal to the regional investment environment and long-term development prospects.

Sofia Mendez5 min read
Economic Outlook

Structural opportunities behind the growth of the Latin American transformer market: industrial chain reshaping driven by energy transition.

The transformer manufacturing industry in Latin America is entering a new growth cycle, with a projected compound annual growth rate of 4-6% from 2026 to 2035. Grid modernization, renewable energy expansion, and replacement of aging equipment are the core drivers. Brazil and Mexico, as manufacturing hubs, face challenges such as import dependence, material cost volatility, and regulatory fragmentation. Digital monitoring, localized assembly, and long-term agreements are reshaping the competitive landscape. This article analyzes the impact of regional market changes on investors, industry, and trade patterns.

Sofia Mendez6 min read
Regional Briefing

Political Wind Shift: How Latin America's Rightward Turn Reshapes the Future of the Amazon?

With election results in Colombia, Peru, and Brazil leaning toward the right, the protection of the Amazon rainforest faces new challenges. This article analyzes how regional political shifts affect resource extraction, illegal mining, and international climate commitments, and explores the long-term balance between economy and ecology.

Sofia Mendez5 min read
Regional Briefing

From combating crime to political reshaping: The economic impact of the far-right wave in Latin America

As the "Bukele model" of El Salvador is replicated in multiple countries, far-right forces in Latin America are rapidly rising under the pretext of combating crime. This political shift is reshaping the regional economic landscape: short-term improvements in security may attract investment, but long-term rule-of-law risks and the uncertainties of populist policies warrant caution.

Sofia Mendez5 min read
Commodities & Trade

US-Mexico trade uncertainty intensifies: Latin American supply chain landscape faces reshaping

U.S. and Mexican officials are set to hold consultations on agricultural and energy issues, as Trump questions the USMCA trade agreement. This development not only threatens Mexico's trade stability but could also trigger a deep restructuring of Latin America's regional supply chains. This article analyzes how the rise of protectionism is reshaping Latin America's economic landscape from four dimensions—national, industrial, investment, and regional coordination—and explores which countries and industries will benefit or suffer as a result.

Sofia Mendez6 min read
Regional Briefing

Peru's tight election: How political uncertainty is reshaping the landscape of mining investment in Latin America

The vote margin in Peru's presidential runoff is extremely narrow, increasing the risk of political deadlock. This article analyzes the potential impact of election uncertainty on Peru's copper mining industry, foreign investor confidence, and the regional economic landscape, and looks ahead to Latin American resource investment trends over the next five years.

Sofia Mendez4 min read
Regional Briefing

Tourism is reshaping Latin America’s growth narrative: safety, consumption, and infrastructure are jointly driving a new round of competition

WTTC 2026 forecasts show that Latin America’s tourism growth rate will surpass the global average, with even stronger growth in international visitor spending. This article analyzes from the perspectives of countries, industries, trade, and investment why tourism is becoming a new growth engine for Latin America, and how it will in turn drive upgrades in transportation, hotels, and regional infrastructure.

Sofia Mendez6 min read
Regional Briefing

From “Anti-American” to “Pro-American” and then to Security Governance: Latin America’s Political Right Turn Is Reshaping the Region’s Growth Logic

The political shift to the right in many Latin American countries is not merely a change in election results; it also reflects a regional realignment jointly driven by security, immigration, low economic growth, and the restructuring of relations with China and the United States. The elections in Peru and Colombia will test whether this trend continues to spread and affect expectations for mining, investment, and trade.

Sofia Mendez8 min read
Business & Investment

AI is pushing impact investing into a new phase: How should Latin American capital understand this latest wave of technological revaluation?

AI is becoming a stress test for impact investing, and it may also create a window of opportunity for the revaluation of emerging market assets. For Latin America, this means capital is more likely to flow toward companies that can improve efficiency, financial inclusion, and the energy transition, rather than simply chasing technology buzzwords.

Sofia Mendez6 min read
Economic Outlook

Latin America enters a period of geo-economic rebalancing: How U.S.-China competition is reshaping trade, ports, and the security landscape

Latin America is in the midst of a round of geoeconomic rebalancing. China’s presence in trade, ports, and resource procurement continues to expand, while the United States strengthens its regional influence through tariffs, friend-shoring, military cooperation, and supply chain restructuring. This article examines Latin America’s new position in global competition from the perspectives of countries, industries, trade, and investment.

Sofia Mendez9 min read
Business & Investment

From “fast launches” to “slow decisions”: Lessons from Singapore’s experience for Latin America’s digital transformation

Against the backdrop of the accelerating pace of digitalization, automation, and cloud investment, what truly determines regional competitiveness is not just “who is faster,” but “who is better at focusing.” Singapore’s experience suggests to Latin America: innovation requires rhythm, priorities, and execution discipline.

Sofia Mendez8 min read