Bolivia Country Commercial Guide
Learn about the market conditions, opportunities, regulations, and business conditions in bolivia, prepared by at U.S. Embassies worldwide by Commerce Department, State Department and other U.S. agencies’ professionals
Select Country Guide
Agricultural Sectors
Last published date:

Overview

According to the World Bank, the agriculture sector contributed 14 percent of the value-added share to Bolivia’s 2024 GDP. Although agriculture forms an integral part of the Bolivian economy and society, Bolivia does not produce agricultural machinery. Bolivia imports most machinery from the United States, China, Argentina, and Brazil. When compared with other countries, Bolivian agricultural yields are among the lowest in the region and would greatly benefit from the introduction of new biotechnologies such as genetically enhanced seeds. Farmers and the Bolivian government are attempting to improve the Bolivian agriculture sector and increase agricultural yields, but they need modern equipment and technology to boost productivity and reduce the environmental impact of antiquated farming methods. Bolivia also does not produce pesticides, instead importing from neighboring Latin American countries as well as China and the United States. The Paz administration has signaled a willingness to open Bolivia’s market to new biotechnologies, providing a significant opportunity to investment. In 2015, the Bolivian government sought to triple its agricultural gross domestic product from $3 billion to $10 billion by 2025. This effort was directly related to the government’s desire to make up Bolivia’s lost revenue from the fall in natural gas prices and to increase domestic food production. Irrigation infrastructure and agricultural machinery were identified as key elements in need of development to achieve these goals, but progress has so far been limited. Most commercial agriculture (farms operating on 50-5,000 hectares) is concentrated in the Department of Santa Cruz, which drives soybean, sugar, and livestock exports. Agriculture in the western highlands is mainly carried out by small farmers (50 hectares or less) focusing on subsistence crops such as potatoes and corn; however, there is a rising trend to produce heritage cash crops like canyagua, achachairu, chia, and quinoa. Although agriculture is more developed and mechanized in Santa Cruz, the use of modern agricultural technologies in Bolivia is limited.

Machinery, Equipment, Fertilizers and Pesticides, US$, millions
Production202220232024
Total Local Production000
Total Exports000
Total Imports654.2547421.6
Imports from the U.S.36.422.912.8
Total Market Size654.2547421.6
Exchange Rates6.866.866.86

 

(Total market size = (total local production + imports) - exports)

Units: $ millions
Source: National Statistics Bureau (INE) 

Leading Sub-Sectors

The best sub-sector prospects would be new and used agriculture machinery as well as pesticides. Tractors, soil cultivation, planting and harvesting, and irrigation-system equipment and machinery are top prospects. Other prospects are pesticides, herbicides, and other agricultural chemicals, as well as new technologies for agricultural production (drone, satellite controls, etc.)..

Opportunities

Farmers have prioritized irrigation improvement, and the government agreed to declare 2015-2025 as the “irrigation decade,” promising significant investment in irrigation systems. Irrigation efforts will require several inputs, including pumps and machinery for digging channels. They will also need more advanced and efficient techniques such as center-pivot irrigation, localized irrigation-sprinkler, and drip irrigation-systems. The Bolivian Association for Importers of Agrochemicals (APIA) represents most of the legal importers of pesticides in Bolivia. APIA maintains a well-established network in the sector and can help find distributors for new products. The Oilseed and Wheat Producers Association of Bolivia (ANAPO) represents the largest farming companies in Bolivia, and they can help identify individual sector needs and demands for agro-chemicals. There are also import companies that bring products from various parts of the world, including the United States, that would be highly interested in representing U.S. companies in the Bolivian market.

U.S. firms may find new opportunities in biotechnology. Bolivia was the tenth-largest producer of biotech crops in the world in 2023, the last year with reliable data. Drought-resistant crop varieties can help farmers cope with unpredictable weather patterns, while biological pest control and soil enhancement technologies can provide cost-effective ways to boost yields without relying on chemical inputs. Precision farming and gene-editing tools could safeguard the country’s unique native crop varieties while developing new, climate-resilient plants.
 

Resources

×

Global Business Navigator Chatbot Beta

Welcome to the Global Business Navigator, an artificial intelligence (AI) Chatbot from the International Trade Administration (ITA). This tool, currently in beta version testing, is designed to provide general information on the exporting process and the resources available to assist new and experienced U.S. exporters. The Chatbot, developed using Microsoft’s Azure AI services, is trained on ITA’s export-related content and aims to quickly get users the information they need. The Chatbot is intended to make the benefits of exporting more accessible by understanding non-expert language, idiomatic expressions, and foreign languages.

Limitations

As a beta product, the Chatbot is currently being tested and its responses may occasionally produce inaccurate or incomplete information. The Chatbot is trained to decline out of scope or inappropriate requests. The Chatbot’s knowledge is limited to the public information on the Export Solutions web pages of Trade.gov, which covers a wide range of topics on exporting. While it cannot provide responses specific to a company’s product or a specific foreign market, its reference pages will guide you to other relevant government resources and market research. Always double-check the Chatbot’s responses using the provided references or by visiting the Export Solutions web pages on Trade.gov. Do not use its responses as legal or professional advice. Inaccurate advice from the Chatbot would not be a defense to violating any export rules or regulations.

Privacy

The Chatbot does not collect information about users and does not use the contents of users’ chat history to learn new information. All feedback is anonymous. Please do not enter personally identifiable information (PII), sensitive, or proprietary information into the Chatbot. Your conversations will not be connected to other interactions or accounts with ITA. Conversations with the Chatbot may be reviewed to help ITA improve the tool and address harmful, illegal, or otherwise inappropriate questions.

Translation

The Chatbot supports a wide range of languages. Because the Chatbot is trained in English and responses are translated, you should verify the translation. For example, the Chatbot may have difficulty with acronyms, abbreviations, and nuances in a language other than English.

Privacy Program | Information Quality Guidelines | Accessibility