Did you see what’s happening on the Mexico, Central America, and Caribbean fronts? This week of April 3, 2025, economic signals are going wild: currency rising, debts plunging, investments skyrocketing… or collapsing. A real geo-economic soap opera in the open air.
If you want to understand what’s really at stake in this bubbling region and how it might impact your business, your job, or even your next trip, pay close attention to what follows. You’re going to be amazed.
💸 The Mexican peso is making waves (and it’s not over)
The Mexican peso rises by +2.80% against the dollar. At first glance, it’s cool. But this increase hides a real tension: the shadow of U.S. tariffs still looms. Trump hasn’t included Mexico in his new taxes, but for how long? The markets are holding their breath.
Meanwhile, remittances from the United States to Mexican families – the famous remesas – are down by 0.8%. Less money sent means a drop in purchasing power for thousands of households.
📉 Remittances down
💼 Business confidence wavering
📊 GDP in danger?
🧍♂️ Stable employment, but the rich are flying high (or almost)
Surprise: despite the jolts, unemployment remains at 2.5%. Quite solid. But beware of the other side of the coin: the 22 richest Mexicans hold 9% of the GDP all by themselves. And even if their wealth drops by 16%, the gap is widening.
| 🔎 Indicators | Key Figures |
|---|---|
| Unemployment rate | 2.5% (stable) |
| Remittances | -0.8% |
| Wealth of the richest | 167.4 billion USD (-16%) |
🚄 XXL Infrastructures: 7.7 billion to boost Mexico
The government is bringing out the big guns: 7.7 billion USD for rail infrastructure. Enough to boost confidence (currently at 49.4%, falling) and revive promising sectors like construction or consumption.
Giants like Cemex and Grupo Bimbo are to be closely monitored. If these behemoths handle the transition well, they could become the locomotives of the economy again.
🇨🇷🇸🇻🇬🇹 Central America wants its revenge
Here, each country is charting its course. And some are making significant progress:
✅ Costa Rica: debt under control, exports thriving
With a debt target of 54.2% of GDP by 2030, and exports rising by 9.9%, the country is set up for success.
🔋 El Salvador bets on geothermal energy
A loan of 150 million USD from the World Bank kickstarts an ambitious energy project. And on the banking side? Solid. Credit up by 8.2%.
🌍 Guatemala: “exporting all the good”
New national strategy. And already 1.2 billion USD in exports just in January (+4%). Clearly, they are stepping up their game.
🌊 Panama and Honduras: between ambition and slowdown
Two very different trajectories:
📉 Honduras: -7.7% in FDI
Foreign investment is plummeting. Not a good sign. They will need to reassure investors to avoid a downturn.
🚢 Panama: betting on the ports
The subsidiary of Maersk buys the Panama Canal Railway Company. It’s strategic. The country dreams of becoming a regional hub. And it could work.
🏝️ The Caribbean: between storm and light
The region remains fragile but strategically crucial:
⛴️ Bahamas: +60% in maritime costs?
New U.S. taxes could raise transport costs by 60%. A harsh blow for imports.
🏨 Cuba: tourism as a lifeline
Despite the crisis, tourism projects are multiplying. Cuban resilience is asserting itself.
🌟 Dominican Republic: aiming for 2036
The Meta RD 2036 plan aims to double the GDP of the country. Committees, strategies, reforms: everything is set in motion.
📌 In summary:
- Mexico is resilient but under pressure.
- Costa Rica and Guatemala are excelling in exports.
- El Salvador is paving a green path with geothermal energy.
- Panama aims to dominate the ports.
- The Caribbean is adapting, each in its own way.
🧠 And what about you, what do you take away from all this?
This region never sleeps. It adjusts, bounces back, tries, fails, and tries again. It is also full of opportunities to seize. Whether you are an investor, curious, or passionate about geopolitics, you’ll want to keep an eye on this.
👉 So, do you want us to follow this together every week? Activate notifications and don’t miss any of this Latin power surge.
Hello, my name is Manon, I’m 40 years old and I’m a journalist specializing in current affairs. Passionate about news and investigative reporting, I strive to cover a wide range of topics with rigor and integrity. My goal is to provide insightful analysis and contribute to an informed public debate.
