Data or statistical facts on the situation and perspectives of agri-food systems and the impact of policies
47% of surveyed agrifood companies in Latin America and the Caribbean report being unaware of public policy instruments targeted at the sector, highlighting gaps in access to support programs.
76% of surveyed agrifood companies in Latin America and the Caribbean consider access to financing to be the main public policy priority for the sector.
83% of agrifood companies in Latin America and the Caribbean finance their investments primarily with their own resources due to limited access to credit.
65% of agrifood companies in Latin America and the Caribbean identify high logistics and transportation costs as the main barrier to growth and participation in international trade.
The World Bank Group’s fertilizer index is projected to increase by 31% (y/y) in 2026. (Banco Mundial, 2026).
The price of urea in the United States increased by 34% before the planting season (Agrolatam, 2026).
Prices for nitrogen fertilizers in the US market have risen by more than 30% in recent weeks (Agrolatam, 2026).
Natural gas prices, the main input for fertilizers, increased by up to 50%, driving up the cost of the sector (Agrolatam, 2026).
24 vessels per day transited the Panama Canal during the 2023–24 El Niño drought, down from the usual 36, with draft restrictions set at 44 feet (Noll, 2026).
More than 80% of the fertilizers used in Latin America are imported, which increases regional vulnerability to external shocks (Mundoagro, 2026).
