Demand for structured finance is surging in Mexico as President Claudia Sheinbaum’s US$277bn investment plan builds momentum. Since taking office last October, Sheinbaum has put investment in industry, energy and infrastructure at the heart of her plan to accelerate growth and turn the world’s 12th largest economy into the 10th biggest. That ambition is leading to rising requirements for structured finance solutions to fund projects in areas ranging from highways and renewable energy to battery storage and cell towers.
“In the last eight months we have been busier than ever,” Juan Francisco Toro, CEO and managing director of the Mexican non-bank financial company (Sofom) of Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, told BNamericas.
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Argentina’s congressional elections in October are set to play a decisive role in the reform agenda of President Javier Milei. Since taking office in December 2023, Milei has pushed wide-ranging spending cuts and an economic liberalization program designed to shrink the state’s role and attract private investment.
“A strong result would expand legislative support for the government and could accelerate structural reforms, including exchange rate and tax liberalization,” Alexandre Pierantoni, managing director and head of corporate finance for Latin America at global consultancy Kroll, told BNamericas.
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Latin America and the Caribbean have a portfolio of 155 rail projects requiring an estimated US$384bn in investments through 2050, according to development bank CAF. Of the total, around US$150bn corresponds to initiatives that are not yet ready for execution and which still require financing. Read more here.
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Brazil has 111 green hydrogen projects under development, representing total investments of 454bn reais (US$81bn), according to a survey by consultancy Clean Energy Latin America (CELA). The mapping includes green hydrogen, ammonia, e-methanol and green steel initiatives in 15 of the country’s states, with estimated demand for 90GW of new renewable power capacity to support fuel and derivative production. Read more here.
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The Trump administration confirmed a 50% tariff on Brazilian imports but spared key products including wood pulp, oil derivatives, aircraft parts, fertilizers, energy products, pig iron and precious metals. “This news is very positive for Brazil because the products that are most exported to the United States are on the list of exemptions,” Roberto Troster, a partner at consultancy Troster & Associados, told BNamericas.
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The Bahía Blanca-Coronel Rosales free trade zone, located in Buenos Aires province, is planning to attract investments with a new IT park focused on data centers. “We are creating the competitive conditions necessary for these investments to occur,” Pablo Amarelle, the head of Zona Sur, which manages the free trade zone, told BNamericas.
MINING AND METALS
How Brazil can make critical minerals a strategic asset in trade with the US
Latin American gold projects advancing amid bullish price outlook
Chilean refined copper exports spared from Trump’s tariffs, but the market reacts
Brazil’s J&F looks to invest over US$700mn in iron ore project
Argentine lithium projects: The Rigi winners, the loser and those pending
OIL & GAS
Argentina’s YPF readies new divestment round
TC Energy mulls northern Mexico expansion amid rising natgas demand
Petrobras mulling reactivation of shallow water oil and gas hubs
Why Brazil’s upcoming production-sharing auction will attract market interest
The risks and rewards of Mexico’s latest oil and gas opportunity
INFRASTRUCTURE
Brazil aims to triple navigable waterways
Five August infrastructure auctions in Brazil could unlock US$3.6bn in investments
Ecuador expects road concessions to begin taking shape by end-2026
Investment in flux: The shifting climate for infrastructure in Brazil amid fiscal uncertainty and regulatory change
Infrastructure, mining and speeding up permitting considered key to Chile’s economic recovery
ELECTRIC POWER
Enel Chile preparing to launch US$400mn northern hybridization push
Polaris sees Puerto Rico energy storage online in 2026
Guatemala solar power capacity set to jump 30%
Chile launches special short-term regulated supply auction
Spotlight: Opportunities in Argentina’s electric power sector
POLITICAL RISK & MACRO
Trade war expected to bring Chile closer to Global South
Mexico dodges punishing US tariffs but uncertainty could extend into 2026
Opposition candidates lead Bolivia election polls
Brazil ups political pressure on market players to lower energy prices
Argentina’s midterms ‘will be a turning point for Milei’s reform agenda’
ICT
Argentina free trade zone plans to attract data center investments
How AI could impact Latin America’s productivity and GDP
How much are Mexican fixed broadband operators investing?
Costa Rica’s ICE launches new tender for 4G and 5G network
Telconet plans US$550mn in subsea cable, edge data center investments
