In 2019, Bolivia’s total maritime cargo amounted to 5.6 million tons. 67% of the shipment, 3.7 million tons, moved across the Pacific Ocean through Chilean ports, 14.7% less than in 2018. On the Atlantic Ocean and through the Paraguay-Paraná Waterway, moved 1.3 million tons of cargo.
The Governor’s Office of Santa Cruz will suspend at least eight projects for Bs 35 million ($ 5 million), due to the fall in oil prices and the reduction of its income. The institution budgeted Bs 250 million ($35.9 million) for 2020 with a reference price of $52 per barrel of oil. The cost of crude oil fell to $20 per barrel, affecting income nationwide.
The Las Lomas-Buenavista steel plant enters the final stage of assembly. The works register progress of 90% in the rolling area and 70% in the steel plant. The industrial complex will cover 50% of the national demand, will produce for the domestic market 200,000 tons of rebar, primary input in the construction sector. The investment is approximately $169 million.
Since the total quarantine applied in the country, last March 22nd, 550 industries of the city of Santa Cruz stopped their operations. Santa Cruz contributes more than 25% to Bolivia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The only companies authorized to operate, according to government regulations, are those that produce food.
The government will absorb the electricity expenses of nearly 2.5 million households that do not exceed the consumption of Bs 120 per month, at the cost of Bs 282 million ($40.5 million). For household water and gas consumption, the Government instructed that these services should not cut off. More than 6.15 million family baskets will be distributed, mobilizing 90,000 tons of food for people without a fixed economic income.
