The latest Rabobank Global Dairy report warns of more financial pain expected for dairy farmers, but that demand-led resurgence is now increasingly possible

With a complete rebalance of the Chinese dairy market not expected in the near term, dairy farmers around the globe will need to manage through more financial pain in the months ahead, according to Rabobank’s latest Global Dairy Quarterly report. But the storm won’t last forever, the report says, and with lower global prices stemming supply growth in key dairy production regions, there is an increasing possibility a demand resurgence could emerge well before milk output can recover, creating a whiplash…
MercadoPago is the most extensive online payment network in Latin America

Thanks to the digital revolution, many people now participate in e-commerce via their mobile phones. Online payments are becoming increasingly important. MercadoPago, the largest Latin American online payment network, was launched in 2012. MercadoLibre, an e-commerce marketplace and online bidding site, found it. It allows users to send and receive online payments safely, efficiently and quickly. Apps allow companies to charge customers in different ways: via email, social networks or websites, mobile applications,…
Real Estate Construction in Uruguay has slowed, but the main buyers, Argentines, are still keen to buy

Most mid to higher-end Real Estate in Argentina and Uruguay are quoted in US dollars. In particular, new properties. The Uruguayan real estate market is “on the rise”. However, the weakening of the US dollar has caused new construction to be halted due to the high cost of local labour. Uruguay’s property market continues to grow in purchasing, renting and selling properties. Local and international investors are interested in projects presented by the Uruguayan market, particularly those homes…
Uruguay beef has become scientifically synonymous with “the best meat in the world.”

“Meat Sciences”, an important original scientific journal from the Netherlands, published a study by the National Institute of Agricultural Research (INIA) of Uruguay that offered results and excellent news for the Uruguayan meat industry. According to a report in the Dutch magazine “Meat Sciences”, it can be scientifically stated that Uruguay today produces the best meat in the world. As if that data were not enough praise for the Uruguayan meat industry, according to the scientific magazine, on average,…
Consolidation of South American meat processing plants

Minerva Foods was the biggest exporter of beef in South America. It will take control of a San Luis unit in an operation worth US$ 1.5 billion for it and 16 other Marfrig Global Foods plants in Mercosur. Minerva Foods controls Swift in Rosario. Swift Argentina In Mercosur, the Brazilian company Minerva Foods, the biggest exporter of beef in South America, now controls 16 refrigeration plants owned by its rival, Brazilian Marfrig. Argentina, where they bought an establishment, will consolidate their number one…
Why South America should be considered a Preferred Investment Destination

GTSA principal Geoffrey McRae has lived and owned real estate in South America since 2003, so he has his own views of its opportunities and risks. He founded the real estate group under the Gateway to South America brand covering Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay, so he has seen the benefits and challenges of operating in each country and market. In his opinion, business success in the region relies on the ability to understand the countries’ histories, their business customs and learn…
According to the Big Mac Index, Uruguay’s currency is the most overvalued globally.

The Big Mac Index was developed last month, following June, which had the lowest monthly price decline in the 15 previous months. The Big Mac Index for Uruguay According to The Economist, a Big Mac in Uruguay costs 259 pesos, which is equivalent to approximately $6.86. The same hamburger costs $5.58 USD in the USA. On the other hand, it is the 22.9% highest-priced hamburger in the country. The previous index showed that the local currency had a value of 27.8% higher than what was considered to be its “balanced”…
Investors are starting to notice that Latin America has the commodities to become this century’s super producer

White crystals cover the ground near the Atacama salt flats in Chile. Below the surface are vast lithium salts deposits, the ore used to produce the light, soft metal needed for high-capacity battery production. Pumps operated by sqm, the world’s largest lithium salt producer, vibrate as they draw up mineral-rich brine. The liquid in evaporation pools is a patchwork of blue and emerald on the bright crust. This operation begins a chain that ends with the lithium batteries used to power electric vehicles.…
Uruguay’s success story continues unabated

Uruguay is posting close to Chinese levels of GDP growth as its economy diversifies, thanks to prudent macroeconomic policies and balanced fiscal accounts that have resulted in low inflation coupled with strong gross domestic product and foreign direct investment growth. At the close of this year, Uruguay will have experienced 24 consecutive quarters of economic growth, reaching an average annual rate over five years of 8.1%. This year, the Uruguayan economy is forecast to grow at 7.5% within a framework of…
High-Value Property Marketing “The case for pre sale offers”

There are many different methods available for the marketing and sale of specialised high-value properties in addition to the traditional real estate listing arrangements of auction and tender type formats. There are advantages, disadvantages and tradeoffs associated with every marketing approach, and the best strategy for marketing and selling a specific property will vary based upon the ownership objectives and the particular property. One approach, which can be optimal in certain instances, is private, pre-marketing…
State of the art dairy farm in Uruguay with 13,000 milking cows and self-generating power

A state-of-the-art dairy farm with 13,000 milking cows exporting powder milk created more than 300 qualified jobs and generated its own energy from the animals’ dung in Durazno, Uruguay. It costs over 160 million US dollars and belongs to Argentine tycoon Alejandro Bulgheroni, who has been investing heavily in Uruguay. He also owns olive plantations, vineyards and a winery with his brand name. Oscar Ianni and Alessandro Martelli from Estancias del Lago, as the dairy farm is named, said the preliminary operation…
Is the the USD doomed as a world reserve currency?

The United States has benefited enormously from being the World’s Reserve Currency because much of the world still uses the dollar for international trade. This is because foreign governments must hold USD in their foreign exchange reserves to settle international claims and intervene in foreign exchange markets. In addition, many emerging market countries like Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay and Peru use USD dollars for capital goods. ie housing, commercial property, imported cars, commodities…
The Economist: Uruguay is one of the very few “full democracies” in the world

Uruguay leads as one of four full democracies in the Americas, according to the Democracy Index 2020, published by The Economist. Uruguay scored 8,61 points out of a possible 10 and ranked fifteenth at the world level, while the other “full” democracies in the region are Costa Rica, 8,16; Chile, 8,28 and Canada, with 9,24 points. The overall global average is 5,37, and the end of the democracy list is North Korea, with 1,08 points. According to the Index, countries are catalogued as “full democracies,”…
The Montevideo Water Crisis is a wake-up call to the rest of the world

The drought in Uruguay results from a combination of factors, including low levels of precipitation, rising temperatures, and the La Niña phenomenon. The new abnormal is that Uruguay will have to deal with more droughts in the future as climate heating continues. The situation is particularly challenging in Montevideo, Uruguay’s capital, where the city relies on a dam, the only drinking water source for the area. With more and more of this saltwater coming in, tap water has reached a point where it has…