Our Scans · South America · Weekly Summary

• [New] There could be less rainfall across parts of South America, and global warming will worsen. Live Science
• [New] The Argentine soybean crop, which typically benefits from El Nino's wetter conditions in southern South America, is still months from planting; its partial offsetting effect will emerge later in the cycle. Center for Commercial Agriculture
• South America offers opportunities in food, beverage, and agricultural supply chains, while the Middle East and African markets are adopting cloud transportation and visibility tools as infrastructure investment and cross-border e-commerce expand. Mordor Intelligence
• South America, the Middle East, and Africa remain earlier-stage regions, but mobile-first delivery, public digital education programs, and local modernization agendas are supporting longer-term adoption potential. Mordor Intelligence
• Brazil's position in South America, separated by the expansive Atlantic Ocean from the primary theaters of potential conflict in Europe and Asia, substantially reduces the risks of direct invasion or aerial bombardment from distant powers. Grokipedia
• There is a potential threat of epidemic spread between French Polynesia and South America. PubMed Central (PMC)
• In South America, 2025-26 corn production potential is on the rise. Farm Progress
• Despite a 4.5-million-tonne cut since the previous forecast in June, utilization of coarse grains is still expected to grow by 8.0 million tonnes in 2026/27 driven by higher feed use, especially in South America, and increases in food consumption, mainly in Africa. MTS Insights
• Over the long term, we expect emerging markets in Asia Pacific, Africa, and South America to drive global transportation and logistics growth. atradius
• Chinese state-owned firms will even build and manage an entire regional or national grid, as they are doing across South America and southern Europe. Council on Foreign Relations
• Beyond electricity, bioenergy plays a growing role in transport: biofuel blending already meets around 10% of road transport fuel demand - second only to Central and South America - and rises to around 15% by 2050. IEA
• Much of the remaining fifth of the world's total installed wind capacity will be in the Americas, with North America accounting for 267.1 GW and Central and South America, 89 GW. Windpower Monthly
• South America holds 50% + of global lithium resources yet faces headwinds Supply share forecast to hold at ~27% through 2036 despite enormous resource base. LinkedIn
• WhatsApp is expected to have 3.5 billion active users by the end of 2026, since it remains one of the most popular messaging apps in places like Asia and South America. GetAFollower Blog
• In regions like Southeast Asia and South America, the potential for electric vehicle production is enormous. 2026 Best Electric Vehicle Production Line Opportunitie
• Chile remains at a clear advantage in trade within South America, and as an associate member of MERCOSUR it continues to enjoy free trade with the bloc, which in toto will strengthen its ties with Europe. ECPS
• Among the geopolitical frictions and systemic vulnerabilities is Chile's strategic decision to tender a subsea fiber optic cable connecting South America to Asia. ECPS
• Typically El Ninos lead to elevated risks of drought in southern Africa and northern parts of South America, but flooding in southern Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. The Guardian
• With harvest well underway in South America and record crops already expected, the Dow Jones survey is calling for another modest upward revision to Brazil and Argentina's production in 2026. DTN Progressive Farmer
• On the global balance sheet, USDA's changes have been anticipated to lean bearish, as growing production ideas in South America have played a part in the recent price weakness as well. DTN Progressive Farmer
• The World Meteorological Organization projects a high likelihood of El Nino conditions emerging during May to July, accompanied by an increased risk of high temperatures and drought conditions across parts of Central and northern South America. Cello Square
• Lithium producers in South America could encounter operational disruptions from unusually heavy rainfall, while iron ore faces a more mixed outlook. Saxo Bank (Schweiz) AG

Last updated: 03 August 2026