Get our news on your inbox! x

Remember me Forgot password

MercoPress, en Español

Montevideo, May 18th 2025 - 21:22 UTC

Economy

  • Wednesday, March 19th 2025 - 14:23 UTC

    Dollar quotation projected to rise in Paraguay

    The BCP sold US$ 216 million to the local financial market last week in an effort to contain volatility

    The US dollar is continuing to rise in Paraguay despite the Central Bank (BCP) selling US$ 216 million to local financial institutions to stabilize the currency. Experts predict the dollar could reach ₲ 8,000 in the first half of 2025, driven by international tensions and a weak soybean market.

  • Wednesday, March 19th 2025 - 10:55 UTC

    Peronists oppose Milei's intention to take another loan from the IMF

    Milei's DNU circumvented his duty to have Congress approve indebting the country, the PJ argued

    Argentina's Justicialist [Peronist] Party (PJ) led by former President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner (CFK) Tuesday expressed its rejection of President Javier Milei's Emergency Decree (DNU) 179/25 clearing the way for further borrowing from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) with no Congressional approval. The PJ deemed the initiative “illegitimate” and unconstitutional on the grounds that it violated Law 27.612, which requires the Executive to submit full IMF agreement details to Congress, and Article 75 of the National Constitution, which assigns Congress the authority to manage national debt.

  • Tuesday, March 18th 2025 - 11:05 UTC

    Falklands, proposed changes to National Minimum Wage Accommodation

    A consultation will be held from this week to Sunday 13th April, to understand the views of employees, business, and the wider community on the proposed changes.

    The Falkland Islands Government (FIG) Policy Department is reviewing the National Minimum Wage (NMW) Accommodation Offset and has published proposed changes for comment. This follows a first round of consultation, conducted late last year, which identified several issues with the regulation.

  • Monday, March 17th 2025 - 10:22 UTC

    Argentine inflation projected to bounce back this month

    A sharp drop in consumption amid uncertainties regarding a possible understanding with the IMF discourages experts from issuing optimistic projections

    After Argentina's National Institute of Statistics and Census (Inec) announced Friday that the National Consumer Price Index (IPC) in February reached 2.4%, analysts in Buenos Aires foresee it to show another acceleration in March, potentially exceeding February's core inflation rate of 2.9%.

  • Monday, March 17th 2025 - 09:04 UTC

    Argentina's “miracle” on hold, says WSJ

    With the mid-term elections in October, any progress will remain on standby for at least half a year, the WSJ foresaw

    According to The Wall Street Journal, Argentina's economic recovery under President Javier Milei is on hold after the Libertarian Government's 2fragile” achievements have investors cautious, awaiting clearer long-term strategies.

  • Friday, March 14th 2025 - 19:42 UTC

    FAO: Coffee production down brings prices up to all-time high

    Unfavorable weather heralds a smaller coffee production in the long run

    The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) released a report on Friday stating that global coffee prices hit a 13-year high in December last year, driven by reduced production in major exporting countries due to adverse weather.

  • Friday, March 14th 2025 - 10:55 UTC

    Brazil lifts import taxes of foodstuffs to lower inflation

    The measure is temporary, Alckmin explained

    Brazil's Chamber of Foreign Trade's (Camex) Executive Management Committee (Gecex) gave its nod Thursday to the temporary removal of import taxes on nine food items to lower prices for local consumers. The tax exemption applies to boneless frozen beef, roasted and unroasted coffee beans, corn (not for sowing), certain uncooked pasta, cookies, extra virgin olive oil, crude sunflower oil, cane sugar, and preserved sardines (limited to 7,500 tons). Taxes ranging between 7.2% and 32% have been lowered to 0% in a move to curb inflation. The measure is effective starting Friday. Authorities insisted it would only be for a limited time.

  • Thursday, March 13th 2025 - 19:25 UTC

    Uruguayan President backtracks on horsetaming restrictions

    The measures had been implemented last month during the last days of Luis Lacalle Pou's government

    Uruguayan President Yamandú Orsi suspended for 180 days a regulation passed last month by the previous administration of Luis Lacalle Pou concerning the National Institute of Animal Welfare (INBA) to prioritize animal welfare in horsetaming (jineteadas). The newly-inaugurated head of State said the measure approved last Feb. 10 was too strict to rural sectors, forcing them to cancel several traditional events.

  • Thursday, March 13th 2025 - 18:17 UTC

    Ireland donates to Brazil's Amazon Fund

    The Amazon Fund is managed by Brazil's BNDES

    Ireland has joined as the eighth donor to Brazil's Amazon Fund, contributing € 15 million, it was reported Thursday. The fund, managed by Brazil's National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES), supports conservation, monitoring, and sustainable development in the Amazon and has financed 123 projects since 2009. In 2024 alone, R$ 200 million (US$ 34.4 million at the current exchange rate) was allocated, aiding efforts to reduce deforestation, which dropped over 45% compared to 2022. Environment Minister Marina Silva emphasized that Ireland's support recognizes Brazil's achievements in combating deforestation and climate change, while the fund continues to attract international partners committed to sustainability.

  • Thursday, March 13th 2025 - 17:57 UTC

    Trump threatens to impose 200% tariffs on all EU alcoholic products

    Trump claimed that tariffs on European products “will be great for the wine and champagne businesses in the US”

    US President Donald Trump threatened Thursday to impose a 200% tariff on all European Union (EU) alcoholic products, including wines, champagnes, and other beverages, in response to the reinstatement of a 50% tariff on American whiskey. The EU's tariffs, announced by the European Commission on Wednesday, are set to begin on April 1 and fully take effect by April 13, targeting US$ 19.6 billion in US imports. This move retaliates against Trump's recent 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports starting Thursday. The EU tariffs also revive previous measures from 2018 and 2020, impacting US$ 8.7 billion in US goods, focusing on products from Republican-led states like soybeans, beef, and poultry.