China gives U.S. competition in Latin American trade and expansion

Source: The Guardian

China has set up camp in Latin America, a region once considered to be the U.S.'s backyard, and it won't be going anywhere anytime soon.
After Chinese trade in Latin America saw an increase from $10 billion in 2000 to $100 billion in 2010, the trend seems to be one that the business-focused nation will want to continue.
Among the trade agreements China has entered into include importing copper from Chile, soy from Argentina, zinc from Peru and iron ore from Brazil.
Agreements to sign oil deals with Chile and Venezuela have been postponed since China's earthquake, but are still scheduled to occur.
Though Venezuela President Hugo Chavez has declared himself to be a Maoist, Chinese officials don't seem to be affected by his ideologic rhetoric.

Philadelphia-based solar business plans expansion into South America from Florida satellites

Source: The Philadelphia Inquirer


Russia moves into South America, unaffected by opinions of other world superpowers

Source: www.petroleumworld.com

U.S. seeks free trade agreement with Colombia to reward international security improvements

Source: L.A. Times


U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates threw support to ratifying a trade agreement with Colombia, a significant step for one of the U.S.'s biggest and most controversial allies in the region.
Though many human rights activists oppose the treaty, which was first signed during George W. Bush's administration, Obama has said the South American country has made many strides in its labor rights policies, and he now supports the administration.
The Department of Defense view the agreement as a way to reward the country for its success fighting against narco-trafficking and insurgent terrorism.
Hoping to influence other Latin American countries, like Mexico and Peru which have received military training from Colombia, the Defense Department want to use ratification of this trade agreement to push other countries to take a cue from Colombia's successes.
"Colombia's success against terrorists and narco-traffickers does offer a lot of opportunities for them to share their expertise," Gates said. "We certainly would like to see . . . other countries take advantage of Colombia's strengths."

Brazil first South American country in Top 50 most innovative countries

Source: BusinessWeek


Argentine economy making headway with investors; U.S. companies in the mix

Source: BusinessWeek

Ford invests in emerging markets in Brazil, Argentina with first profitability in four years

Wasting no time trying to sustain the new period of profitability, Ford Motor Co. is investing in Brazil, Argentina and South Africa to increase sales in these emerging markets.
Ford reached its first profitable year in 2009 since 2005, and the company seeking to revamp its facilities in the three countries, with improvements amounting to totals of $207 million in South Africa, $282 million in Brazil and $250 million in Argentina, Ford said this week.
Ford trails GM, Fiat, Toyota and Volkswagen in sales the South American countries.
Investments in these countries follows an almost $1.5 billion investment in Asian countries.

Source: BusinessWeek

Delta endeavors to establish first non-stop flights from Detroit to Brazil

Source: freep.com

South American countries become players in controversial international trade arrangements

Source: JewishTimes.com

U.S. credit companies set sights on South America and Asia for new opportunities

South American and Asian markets hold promise for future enterprises in the credit industry as opportunities for credit experts fade in the U.S.
Asset-backed security companies have had their share of stressors since the recession, but growth in countries like Brazil, China and India is offering prospects for future business.
"Over time you'll need more people in emerging markets and more people evaluating the local opportunities in those countries including China, Brazil and India," said Mark Kiesel, head global credit research analyst for Pacific Investment Management Co. "These are growing countries that are increasing their influence in the markets. They will have a lot more companies coming to market, and you're going to need people to do the bottom-up credit work for those countries."
Kiesel said that as younger businesses grow in these countries, more credit companies will be needed to support the infrastructure changes.

Source: Reuters

Soybean margin improvement helps U.S. industry

Source: BusinessWeek

U.S.-based economist confirms Chilean inflation as a result of earthquake

Source: BusinessWeek

Mississippi business leaders will travel to South America to explore growth opportunities

The state government entity Mississippi Development Authority is financing a South America tour for state business leaders in June.
A group of business leaders will travel to Chile, Peru and Ecuador, meeting with business official counterparts to discuss opportunities for business growth.
Export opportunities between Mississippi and the three Pacific countries prompted the trip, according to Gray Swoope, MDA executive director.
The group will tour the countries during June 16-25.

Source: WXVT.com

As the U.S. looks to off-shore drilling, South America becomes the source of a wealth of oil

Source: UPI.com

International cell phone business. expects growth from South America, Africa

Source: BusinessWeek

U.S. capitalists look to future investments in Cuba


Though Cuban officials claim their economy isn’t waiting on U.S. involvement, entrepreneurs and investors are eyeing the once off-limits socialist country as a treasure trove for capitalistic possibility.
With access to Cuban tourism, U.S. travel industry executives met with Cuban officials to discuss the future of U.S.-Cuba relations.
While some are anticipating embargo changes, Cuban Tourism Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz said they are busy developing their industry for others in the world.
If allowed to enter into business transactions in Cuba, U.S. companies would join China, Venezuela, Iran, Britain, France and Spain as countries who already have an economic stake in the Caribbean country.


Source: The New York Times


Sony sells stock in HBO Latin America for $217 million to focus on its majority ownership

Source: BusinessWeek


U.S. technology wholesaler expects to maintain Latin American growth with purchase of another U.S. IT company

Source: Business News Americas

Mexico-based U.S. companies fear increasing violence in northern Mexico


Heightened drug violence has many U.S. companies based in Mexico concerned about safety, a recent poll shows.
According to a poll conducted among the American Chamber of Commerce in Mexico, 58 percent of its members felt less safe than they did a year ago.
Mexican President Felipe Calderon's military crusade against the drug cartels and the U.S.'s diplomatic efforts to eradicate the violence haven't quelled the violence and killings.
Mexico is a top U.S. trading partner.

Source: The Washington Post

Two competing plane manufacturers share optimistic view on Latin American markets

Source: Reuters

Fiat gauges success in U.S. and South American markets for the next five years

Source: Freep.com

Corn and soy sales drop after anticipation that lower South American prices would drive down demand for the U.S. crops

A stronger dollar discouraged buyers from purchasing soybeans, corn and wheat this past week.
When compared to six major currencies, the U.S. dollar rose 1.2 percent, resulting in purchasers' looking to other countries, such as Brazil and Argentina, for their crops.
These two South Americans countries' combined output will result in a 44 percent increase for stocks.
“The strong dollar and more supplies from South America have made U.S. soybeans less attractive to overseas buyers, especially China, putting downward pressure on the Chicago futures,” said Toshimitsu Kawanabe, an analyst at Tokyo-based commodity broker Central Shoji Co.
Corn and wheat bushel prices have steadily dropped for May delivery.

Source: BusinessWeek


McDonald’s sales increase in Latin America; region accounts for 16 percent of the corporation’s total revenue

Source: BusinessWeek

Shipping line established between Ecuador and Russia to carry goods between Asia and South America

Source: BusinessWeek

U.S. corn, soy export sales drop in anticipation of South American competition


U.S. corn and soybean demand may fall in favor of cheaper South American crops.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture said the combined output of soybeans from Brazil and Argentina will increase 35 percent this year. Additionally, their corn output level may rise 9.1 percent.
These bigger crops will give the U.S. industries more competition from South American counterparts.
“Export demand for corn and soybeans is going to slowly erode as buyers turn to cheaper supplies from South America,” said Greg Wagner, AgResource Co.’s senior market analyst in Chicago. “There is a more-than-adequate world supply.”
Corn and soybean futures in the U.S. have been in slow decline for multiple sessions.

Source: Business Week


Author pens how-to guide for business relations in Latin America

Source: Asheville Citizen-Times


U.S. foods embark on intense branding projects to increase sales in Latin America

Source: Chicago Tribune

Mexico home to world’s richest man, outranks Microsoft’s Bill Gates

Mexico’s Carlos Slim, a man with holdings in U.S. retailer Saks and New York Times Co., was named the richest man in the world by Forbes magazine Wednesday.
Outranking the U.S.’s Bill Gates as the wealthiest man in the world, Slim has a fortune of $53.5 billion, a sum he earned with a work ethic he’s had since he was a boy selling snacks to his family.
Slim’s key to success is his reputed ability to take failing businesses and turn them into profitable enterprises.
He took this same approach buying up New York Times Co. stock in 2008. He is now in the position to hold a 16 percent stake in the company.

Source: Reuter's


International airline group says Latin American airlines picking up North American slack

Source: CNN Money

New Nevada wind turbine facility to supply North and South American energy projects

Source: BrighterEnergy.org

AIG's tentative sales of non-U.S. insurance company may help efforts to repay bailout

American International Group Inc. may soon sell an insurance division in efforts to repay the $182.3 billion government bailout.
AIG's American Life Insurance Co. may be sole for $15 billion, based on a vote by the board of directors, according to two sources. The sources asked for anonymity since the vote was private.
Alico operates in 50 countries, including some in Latin America.
"Alico is a global leader in life insurance, with operations in 54 countries serving 19 million customers," said Chief Executive Officer Robert Benmosche said in a Feb. 26 letter to shareholders.
In addition to the agreement to sell Alico, AIG has secured almost $47 billion in sales.

Source: BusinessWeek


International law firm with offices in U.S. forms alliance with Brazil

Source: BusinessWeek


Mac systems lag in South American sales, pricing places company out of markets

Source: Ars Technica

Kraft's sales of Tang increase in key growth markets abroad

Tang powdered juice drink sales rose 30 percent last year in regions abroad, including Latin America.
New packaging and marketing strategies helped increase sales, according to Sanjay Khosla, who run developing markets and global categories for Kraft foods. Sales for the tangerine-flavored drink increased 4 percent in 2008.
Efforts to accelerate growth in Latin American and Asian Pacific regions for 10 Kraft brands comes in a time of slumped U.S. sales.
"In the context of a slow U.S. business, developing markets are what give you that extra sales leverage,” said Chris Growe, analyst at Stifel Nicolaus & Co.
Kraft Foods is based in Northfield, Illinois.

Source: BusinessWeek


Growth in Latin American markets gets best start in 10 years

Source: BusinessWeek


Microsoft director confident in Latin American market share presence

Source: Business News Americas

Wal-Mart pledges funds to earthquake relief in Chile

The retailer pledged $1 million to help Chile in the aftermath of an 8.8-magnitude earthquake that struck the South American country early Saturday morning.
Wal-Mart acquired a majority stake in Chile’s leading food retailer, Distribución y Servicio D&S S.A., in January 2009, according to walmartstores.com.

Source: Business Week

Wal-Mart looks to nine Latin American countries for faster growing markets and expansion opportunities

As U.S. sales stall, the largest retailer plans expansion in promising markets

Wal-Mart Inc. intends to open an office to oversee operations in Mexico, Brazil and seven other Latin American countries, according to Eduardo Solorzano, president and CEO of the region.
Brazil, along with some Asian countries, has the attention of Wal-Mart as a fast-growing market in the midst of stalled U.S. sales.
“The size of opportunity in Latin America is huge,” Solorzano said.
Wal-Mart plans to spend $1.2 billion opening new stores in Brazil this year, Solorzano said.
International sales account for a quarter of the Bentonville, Arkansas-based company’s revenue.

Source: Business Week


Hotel loyalty program expands priority program benefits to growing markets in Latin America


Source: The Wall Street Journal Market Watch

Coke bottling company could eventually mirror Latin American Coca-Cola bottling organization

Source: Financial Times

Two largest online travel companies look to Latin America for future growth

CEOs turn their attention to emerging Latin American Markets

Expedia Inc. and Priceline.com expect Latin American and Asian online booking increases to dramatically affect their businesses' growth strategies.
The CEOs of both companies spoke at the Reuters Travel and Leisure Summit and anticipated that international bookings increases would continue to outpace domestic bookings.
Expedia Inc. international bookings increased 38 percent, almost 20 percent more than domestic bookings increased, in the fourth quarter of 2009.
"Europe is a great market for us. And for us, the Asia-Pacific and Latin American markets are new emerging markets," Dara Khosrowshahi, Expedia Inc. CEO, said.
Priceline.com experienced an 81 percent increase in international bookings. Domestic bookings increased 20.6 percent.

Source: Reuters

Miami-based mobile transactions company partners subsidiary with Latin America’s largest mobile messaging and transactions network

Source: CNNmoney.com

E-commerce and online auctions site MercadoLibre experiences 77 percent net income increase in the fourth quarter

Source: CNNmoney.com