BOLIVIA · ECONOMY
Key Facts
- —Power Index Bolivia ranks 12th of 14 in The Rio Times Latin America Power Index, with 28.4 points (October 2026 edition).
- —What is happening Bolivia sold US$183.4 million more goods abroad than it bought in September, led by metal exports.
- —Why it matters Bolivia needs US dollars, and metal sales earn them while its economy shrinks and construction suffers.
- —The numbers Exports were US$1.30 billion and imports US$1.12 billion; imports rose 37.4% from August, exports 9.7%.
- —Who is who The INE, Bolivia’s national statistics institute, publishes the trade data; the central bank holds dollar reserves.
- —What to watch Whether imports keep outrunning exports in October, and whether the INE publishes a January to September total that shows the full-year trend.
- —What it means for you Investors in Bolivian mining or debt see strong metal sales but a shrinking economy.
Bolivia sold US$183.4 million more goods abroad than it bought in September, official data show. Mining exports led the gain as zinc, silver and gold shipments all rose from August.
Bolivia ran a trade surplus of US$183.4 million in September 2026, the INE said on Friday, 30 October. Exports reached US$1.30 billion while imports were US$1.12 billion.
The result matters to US readers because Bolivia exports zinc, silver and gold and is short of dollars. A surplus is one way a dollar-starved economy earns hard currency.
In Plain English
A trade surplus means a country earned more from exports than it spent on imports. For Bolivia, that gap is a source of the US dollars it needs.
What the Numbers Show
Exports rose 9.7% from August to US$1.30 billion, the INE says. Imports jumped 37.4% to US$1.12 billion, much faster than exports.
Mining exports grew 41.3% from August. Zinc rose 57.2%, silver 43.3%, and metallic gold, counted under manufacturing, 33.4%.
July’s surplus was US$176.0 million, on exports of US$1.43 billion and imports of US$1.25 billion. September’s surplus was slightly larger, though built on lower export sales.
A Weak Economy Behind the Surplus
The INE said on 30 October that Bolivia’s economy shrank 3.27% in the first half of 2026. Output fell 5.94% in the second quarter from a year earlier.
The INE links the slump to 53 days of road blockades in May and June that disrupted transport, supply chains and fuel. Construction fell 29.21% in the quarter, and the extractive sector, which covers mining, fell 2.64%.
Extractive output still grew 2.42% over the half-year. It was one of only three sectors to expand.
Prices at the Factory Gate
The INE also said on Tuesday, 27 October, that producer prices, which track what producers charge, rose 1.38% in September. They are up 8.57% so far this year.
What It Means for You
Investors in Bolivian mining or debt get a mixed signal: strong metal sales but a shrinking economy. Metal exporters earn dollars while construction and trade suffer.
Businesses planning to operate in Bolivia should watch how many export dollars reach the banking system. Travellers can read the Rio Times guide to La Paz for local context.
Related Rio Times reports are Bolivia Advances US$333 Million Dollar Refunds and Bolivia’s Legislative Crisis Explained. More is on the Bolivia hub, and Bolivia Power Explained, Who Dominates in 2026 explains who holds power.
What Is Not Known
The INE note gives only September figures, so a January to September total cannot be confirmed. The note itself carries no cumulative figure for the year.
The note gives no dollar values for silver, gold or zinc exports. Monthly trade data are often revised, and it is unclear how many export dollars reach the central bank.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Bolivia’s trade balance in September 2026?
Bolivia ran a surplus of US$183.4 million in September. Exports were US$1.30 billion and imports were US$1.12 billion.
Which Bolivian exports grew most in September?
Zinc exports rose 57.2% from August, silver 43.3% and metallic gold 33.4%. Mining exports as a whole grew 41.3%.
Is Bolivia’s economy growing?
No, the INE says output fell 3.27% in the first half of 2026. The second quarter was down 5.94% from a year earlier.
Why does a trade surplus matter for Bolivia?
A surplus brings in the US dollars Bolivia needs to pay for imports and debt. It does not by itself show how many dollars reach the banking system.
Sources: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE) Bolivia, press note on the September 2026 trade balance, 30 October 2026; INE Bolivia, press note on the July 2026 trade balance; INE Bolivia, GDP results for the second quarter of 2026, 30 October 2026; INE Bolivia, producer price index for September 2026, 27 October 2026 (accessed 2 November 2026).
Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief · Editorial standards · Report an error