Bolivia suspends exports of beef, sugar, soybean and oil to guarantee domestic supply

The Bolivian Government approved a measure that suspended the export of soybean grain, soybean cake, soybean meal, sugar, oil, and beef, starting this Thursday to guarantee the supply of the domestic market.

The Minister of Productive Development and Plural Economy, Néstor Huanca, announced the announcement as the main argument for safeguarding food security.

“From zero hours of this Thursday, Oct. 27, the measure is in force until the conditions of normal supply to the entire Bolivian population are restored”, justified the minister.

He blamed the civic leaders of the Interinstitutional Committee and authorities of the Government of the Bolivian department of Santa Cruz (east) for promoting the indefinite strike with road blockade in demand of the realization of the Population and Housing Census in 2023 and not in 2024 as defined by the Executive.

This measure restricting exports of these foods will be extended until the civic strike in Santa Cruz continues, which prevents the regular supply of products to the domestic market.

“The national government, in response to the concern of Bolivian families, due to the risk of shortage of strategic food, assumes as a preventive measure, within the framework of the Constitution, laws, decrees, and resolutions, to temporarily suspend the export of soybeans, soybean cake, soy flour, sugar, oil, and beef,” said Huanca at a press conference.

According to the minister, the strike in Santa Cruz with paralyzed activities affects the productive sector and threatens the food security of the Bolivian population.

The department of Santa Cruz is celebrating its fifth day of strike this Wednesday to demand a census in 2023. In response to this call, groups of social movements deployed a siege to that region, threatening to destock markets and even cut essential services.

Bolivian President Luis Arce called for Friday all elected authorities, such as governors and mayors, as well as rectors of public universities and social sectors, to a national meeting to agree to define the implementation of the census.

Huanca pointed out that the Bolivian economy grew by 4.13 percent in the first half of the year, which could be affected by this type of stoppage.

He said that the industrial manufacturing sector, such as food, beverages, textiles, metal mechanics, leather, and wood, grew by 2.78 percent.

He also commented that the economy had registered the lowest inflation level in the region, which up to September reached 1.76 percent.

According to Huanca, all this effort of the Bolivian people, the productive sector, and the national Executive is threatened by this scenario of paralysis of activities in the largest and most productive department of Bolivia,

The head of Productive Development also referred to the losses per day of stoppage in Santa Cruz. It said that they amount to 36 million dollars, of which the industrial manufacturing, commerce, tourism, and services sector is affected wbymore than 20 million dollars.