Leaders | Natural resources

How Latin America could be a commodities superpower

It must not squander the opportunity of the next commodity boom

A combine harvester crops soybeans in a field
Image: Getty Images

OVER FIVE centuries Latin America and its 2bn hectares of land have been a vital source of food, fuel and metals for the world. First looted by colonisers for gold, silver, cotton and sugar, it later supplied rubber and oil to Europe and the United States. Now Latin America faces a chance to become the 21st century’s commodity superpower. This time, it must use that chance to boost development at home.

This article appeared in the Leaders section of the print edition under the headline “Cash and quarry”

From the August 12th 2023 edition

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