Latin Trade

Browse past and current articles from this publication.

The good life.(Trade Talk)(Mercer Human Resource Consulting)(Brief Article)
Montevideo is the best place to live in Latin America according to a quality-of-life survey conducted by Mercer Human Resource Consulting. The firm assessed factors such as crime, traffic and the en . . .

Cattle call.(Trade Talk)(Beef cattle)(Brief Article)
An expected Mexican decision to allow U.S. beef back in Mexico could help economies on both sides of the border. A third of U.S. beef exports, worth US$566 million a year, ends up in Mexico. Ever . . .

Fertile markets.(Trade Talk)(Human semen)(Brief Article)
Not all trade barriers concern steel, corn and coffee. Major human semen exporters like the United States say they are having a hard time penetrating Mexico's sperm market. Human semen trade is an e . . .

The U.S. Department of Commerce will investigate Brazilian shrimp exporters Netuno, Cida and NortePesca for dumping practices in
The U.S. Department of Commerce will investigate Brazilian shrimp exporters Netuno, Cida and NortePesca for dumping practices in the United States. The Brazilian Shrimp Association says the exporter . . .

Altos Hornos de Mexico (Ahmsa).(Steel)(Altos Hornos de Mexico S.A. de C.V.)(Brief Article)
Mexican authorities issued arrest warrants for two executives of Altos Hornos de Mexico (Ahmsa), the country's largest steel producer, for tax evasion. The bankrupt Ahmsa says the company and its su . . .

Pfizer, a U.S. pharmaceutical company, filed a lawsuit against 16 Colombian drug manufacturers for reproducing a generic version
Pfizer, a U.S. pharmaceutical company, filed a lawsuit against 16 Colombian drug manufacturers for reproducing a generic version of Viagra using the same color and shape of the anti-impotence medica . . .

A Brazilian judge ordered the arrest of two Petrobras executives in March claiming that they failed to comply with a court rulin
A Brazilian judge ordered the arrest of two Petrobras executives in March claiming that they failed to comply with a court ruling in favor of start-up oil firm Maritima Petroleo e Engenharia, which . . .

An Argentine judge ruled that the government does not own US$11.5 million held by former state-run postal service in New York a
An Argentine judge ruled that the government does not own US$11.5 million held by former state-run postal service Coffee Argentino in New York accounts because they are not national assets. The judg . . .

Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA).(Venezuela)(Petroleos de Venezuela S.A.)(Brief Article)
PETROLEOS DE VENEZUELA (PDVSA), the country's state-owned oil company, made two US$400 million debt payments as well as a $154 minion interest payment on a $4 billion bond issuance. PDVSA said these . . .

Doe Run.(Peru)(Doe Run Co.)(Brief Article)
DOE RUN, a U.S. mining company, will permanently shut down part of its zinc plant in La Oroya by 2005 to reduce dust, metal and sulfur dioxide emissions. Doe Rtm said the emissions were increasing b . . .

Nemak, a subsidiary of Mexican conglomerate Alfa, will supply aluminum parts to global auto manufacturer DaimlerChrysler, which
NEMAK, a subsidiary of Mexican conglomerate Alfa, will supply aluminum parts to global auto manufacturer DaimlerChrysler, which will use the material to build engines for its automobiles beginning 2 . . .

Ballot box.(Panorama)(Presidential elections)(Brief Article)
As Central American countries smooth out the final details of the Central American Free Trade Agreement with the United States, presidential elections in El Salvador and Panama could replace current . . .

Wireless warriors.(Panorama)(Telefonica Moviles S.A.)(BellSouth Cellular Corp.)(Brief Article)
Latin America's no.1 wireless company America Movil can expect tough competition from Spain's Telefonica Moviles in the coming months. The wireless arm of Spanish telecommunications company Telefoni . . .

Unefon, a Mexican wireless operator, received a US$58.5 million loan from Mexican banks Banco Inbursa and Baneo Azteca to pay pa
UNEFON, a Mexican wireless operator, received a US$58.5 million loan from Mexican banks Banco Inbursa and Baneo Azteca to pay part of its $120 million debt. Unefon said the transaction allowed the c . . .

Pemex, Mexico's state-owned oil company, awarded a US$100 million contract to Global Offshore Mexico, a subsidiary of U.S. pipel
PEMEX, Mexico's state-owned oil company, awarded a US$100 million contract to Global Offshore Mexico, a subsidiary of U.S. pipeline construction company Global Industries, to install 53 kilometers o . . .

Banco Mercantil del Norte (Banorte).(Mexico)(Securities)(Brief Article)
BANCO MERCANTIL DEL NORTE (BANORTE), a Mexican bank, issued US$300 million in 10-year bonds to strengthen its credit portfolio. The issue is Banorte's first in international capital markets. . . .

Repsol YPF.(Mexico)(investments)(Brief Article)
REPSOL YPF, a Spanish oil company, invested US$350 million to build a liquefied natural gas and regasification terminal in the port of Lazaro Cardenas on Mexico's Pacific coast. The terminal, due fo . . .

Telefonos de Mexico (TELMEX), a Mexican telephone company, completed the acquisition of the assets of United States' AT&T Latin
TELEFONOS DE MEXICO (TELMEX), a Mexican telephone company, completed the acquisition of the assets of United States' AT&T Latin America. The deal gives Telmex access to markets in Argentina, Brazil, . . .

America Movil.(Mexico)(Investments)(Brief Article)
AMERICA MOVIL, Latin America's leading wireless company, issued approximately US$1.3 billion in senior notes maturing in 2009 and 2014. America Movil said it will use the funds to refinance its shor . . .

Bancolombia.(Colombia)(Bancolombia S.A.)(Brief Article)
BANCOLOMBIA, a Colombian bank, issued US$150 million in bonds maturing over the next five years. The bank said the issue will give it more liquidity to fund its long-term loan structure as well as e . . .

Colombia Telecomunicaciones, the state-owned telecommunications company, paid US$80 million to Canada's Nortel Networks to settl
COLOMBIA TELECOMUNICACIONES, the state-owned telecommunications company, paid US$80 million to Canada's Nortel Networks to settle a legal battle over joint-venture contracts between the two companie . . .

Grupo TPI, a publishing unit of Spain's Telefonica, bought a 40% stake in Chile's Impresora y Comercial Publiguias for US$65.6 m
GRUPO TPI, a publishing unit of Spain's Telefonica, bought a 40% stake in Chile's Impresora y Comercial Publiguias for US$65.6 million. The deal increases TPI's share in the Chilean company to 91%. . . .

AES Gener.(Chile)(Brief Article)
AES GENER, a Chilean unit of U.S. utility company AES, sold US$300 million in bonds and $125 million in new equity as part of a debt restructuring program. AES Gener expects to pre-pay $700 million . . .

South Korea approved the creation of a with Chile, a deal that gives the Asian nation its first bilateral trade agreement after
SOUTH KOREA approved the creation of a free-trade agreement with Chile, a deal that gives the Asian nation its first bilateral trade agreement after months of deliberation. South Korea expects its e . . .

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) gave US$141 million to Uruguay as part of a standby agreement based on the country's impro
THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND (IMF) gave US$141 million to Uruguay as part of a standby agreement based on the country's improving financial market conditions and economic indicators. Honduras als . . .

Panama and Singapore began talks to establish a and expect negotiations to wrap up by the end of 2004.(Central America)(free-tra
PANAMA and Singapore began talks to establish a free-trade agreement and expect negotiations to wrap up by the end of 2004. An agreement would be Singapore's first free trade deal with a Latin Ameri . . .

Embratel.(Brazil)(Brief Article)
EMBRATEL, a Brazilian telecommunications company, is building a new satellite, called the C-1, which will replace satellites used by Brazil's military. The C-1 will be launched by the end of 2005. . . .

Scania, Brasil, a subsidiary of Swedish heavy truck manufacturer Scania, will build 200 engines for the United States' John Deer
SCANIA BRASIL, a subsidiary of Swedish heavy truck manufacturer Scania, will build 200 engines for the United States' John Deere's Brazilian units. The engines will be installed in John Deere's comb . . .

Rayovac Corporation, a U.S. consumer products company.(Brazil)(Microlite)(Brief Article)
RAYOVAC CORPORATION, a U.S. consumer products company, paid US$28 million in cash for Brazilian battery producer Microlite, which has owned the Rayovac brand name in Brazil since 1982. . . .

Petrobras, Brazil's state-owned off company, and White Martins, a Brazilian subsidiary of U.S. industrial gas company Praxair, s
PETROBRAS, Brazil's state-owned off company, and White Martins, a Brazilian subsidiary of U.S. industrial gas company Praxair, spent an initial US$38 million to start up a joint venture that will di . . .

Companhia Vale Do Rio Doce (CVRD), a Brazilian iron ore producer, signed the largest contract in its history to supply 20 millio
COMPANHIA VALE DO RIO DOCE (CVRD), a Brazilian iron ore producer, signed the largest contract in its history to supply 20 million tons of iron ore annually until 2009 to European steel company Arcel . . .

Royal Ahold, a Dutch retailer, sold its Brazilian chain Bompreco to U.S. retailer Wal-Mart, and sold its Brazilian credit card o
ROYAL AHOLD, a Dutch retailer, sold its Brazilian chain Bompreco to U.S. retailer Wal-Mart, and sold its Brazilian credit card operation Hipercard to local bank Unibanco. Ahold said the combined val . . .

Transredes, Bolivia's largest oil and gas pipeline company.(Bolivia)(Inter-American Development Bank )(Brief Article)
TRANSREDES, Bolivia's largest oil and gas pipeline company, received US$220 million in loans from the Andean Development Corporation and the Inter-American Development Bank to improve and expand its . . .

ING.(Argentina)(Brief Article)
ING, a Dutch financial services company, closed Argentine branches of its insurance unit ING Insurance due to poor returns on investments. ING will continue serving existing customers through a cent . . .

Cencosud, a Chilean retailer, will buy the Disco supermarket chain in Argentina from Dutch retailer Royal Ahold for US$315 milli
CENCOSUD, a Chilean retailer, will buy the Disco supermarket chain in Argentina from Dutch retailer Royal Ahold for US$315 million. Cencosud will make the purchase through its subsidiary Jumbo Argen . . .

Argentina paid the International Monetary Fund (IMF) US$3.1 billion to avoid falling into default with the multilateral lender.(
ARGENTINA paid the International Monetary Fund (IMF) US$3.1 billion to avoid falling into default with the multilateral lender. As part of the agreement with the IMF, Argentina will begin formal neg . . .

Big brew.(Panorama)(Companhia de Bebidas das Americas)(Interbrew)(InterbrewAmbev)(Brief Article)
InterbrewAmbev became the biggest beer maker on the planet following the merger of Latin America's largest brewer Companhia de Bebidas das Americas (Ambev) and Belgium's Interbrew. With a 14% stake . . .

Name game.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
I am taking the liberty to make a correction to the feature "Best Business City in Latin America" ("Best of Latin America," February 2004). The residents of the city of Sao Paulo are called "paulist . . .

Who's choice?(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
I am confused by the LATIN TRADE Reader's Choice selection on San Jose, Costa Rica ("Best of Latin America," February 2004). In the article, Barcelo San Jose Palacio Spa and Casino is named as the b . . .

Drink to that.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
First I would like to thank LATIN TRADE for naming us as the Best Bar for Lunch or After-work Drink in Nicaragua ("Best of Latin America," February 2004). We owe this recognition to the business tra . . .

Corporate watch.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
I found the article "10 to Watch" ("Top CEOs," February 2004) very interesting. It clearly shows, with concrete examples, the direction corporate and human resources management have taken for many y . . .

In and out.(Editor's Note)(Latin America)(Business enterprises)(Brief Article)(Editorial)
It's a huge misconception to say that companies are heartless, soulless entities, as Hollywood so often depicts them. The truth is, they have founders, sometimes quite generous people who treat thei . . .

Blacklisted.(Point Of View)(Brief Article)
Outside the Juscelino Kubitschek Memorial Museum in Brasilia appeared a bold statement: Fingerprint the Yankees. In retaliation for a U.S. government decision to fingerprint and photograph some visi . . .

Trade calendar.(Trends)(Calendar)
EVENTS FOOD EXPO 2004 International Trade Fair for the Food Industry April 3-4 San Juan, Puerto Rico Contact: Food Expo Tel: [1] (787) 287-0140 reservations@expo-alimentos.com www.fo . . .

Privatizations.(Trends)(Illustration)
PRIVATIZATION SECTOR PROJECT DESCRIPTION AVIATION BRAZIL Maringa Airport 35-year operating concession CHILE Region IV airport 20-year . . .

Key indicators.(Trends)(Illustration)
LATIN TRADE INDEX * % CHANGE NOVEMBER 02/03 Total Trade November 0 . . .

Excerpt from play to your strength.(Brief Article)(Excerpt)
"The starting point for a human capital strategy is a clear understanding of the workforce, both what it is today and what it is becoming. Like a living organism, a workforce evolves constantly as n . . .

Titles of interest.(Brief Article)
In an era of globalization and instant communications, technical glossaries in various languages are perhaps more useful and more needed than ever before. The Glossary of Petroleum and Environment ( . . .

Up, up, up with people.(Book Review)
Play To Your Strengths Haig R. Nalbantian, Richard A. Guzzo, Dave Kieffer and Jay Doherty Mcgraw-Hill US$24.95 A few years ago, French Interior Minister Charles Pasqua criticized the rise in globa . . .

Friendlier skies.(Aviation growth)(Brief Article)
After a slump during 2002, global air passenger traffic is expected to recover. It will grow by 4.4% in 2004 and 6.3% in 2005. Latin American traffic will grow at a modestly higher rate than the wor . . .