That dollar metric results from a 29.1% increase compared to $7 billion five years earlier for 2020.
Year over year, the latest overall total for Bolivian exports retreated by -17% starting from $10.9 billion in 2023.
Adopting a continental lens, 39.92% of Bolivia’s exports by value was delivered to Asian countries while 39.87% was sold to importers in Latin America excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean.
Bolivia shipped another 12.1% worth of goods to buyers located in Europe.
Smaller percentages went to customers in North America (5.6%), Oceania (2.1%) mainly Australia, then Africa (0.4%).
Bolivia’s Top Trading Partners
Below is a list showcasing 15 of Bolivia’s top trading partners, countries that imported the most Bolivian shipments by dollar value during 2024. Also shown is each import country’s percentage of total Bolivian exports.
- Brazil: US$1.6 billion (14.4% of total Bolivian exports)
- India: $1.3 billion (12.1%)
- mainland China: $1.2 billion (10.8%)
- Argentina: $996.7 million (9.1%)
- Colombia: $957.9 million (8.8%)
- United Arab Emirates: $891.3 million (8.2%)
- Japan: $671.3 million (6.2%)
- Peru: $589.4 million (5.4%)
- South Korea: $403.7 million (3.7%)
- Hong Kong: $318.2 million (2.9%)
- Ecuador: $257.3 million (2.4%)
- United States of America: $251.5 million (2.3%)
- Netherlands: $246 million (2.3%)
- Belgium: $200.3 million (1.8%)
- Chile: $179 million (1.6%)
More than nine-tenths (91.9%) of Bolivian exports in 2024 was delivered to the above 15 trade partners.
Australia increased its import purchases of Bolivia’s exported goods at the highest percentage, up 98.1% from 2023 to 2024. In second place was Belgium (up 89.5%) followed by the United Kingdom (up 37.8%), South Korea (up 37.2%), Netherlands (up 25.8%) then the United States of America (up 21.6%).
The severest decliners among the listed customers for Bolivian exports were India (down -71.8% from 2023), Argentina (down -48.6%), United Arab Emirates (down -45.7%), Colombia (down -45.5%) then Ecuador (down -19.1%).
Countries Causing Bolivia’s Worst Trade Deficits
Bolivia incurred an overall -US$845 million trade deficit in 2024, expanding by 44.5% from the -$584.7 million in red ink one year earlier for 2023.
As defined by Investopedia, a country whose total value of all imported goods is higher than its value of all exports is said to have a negative trade balance or deficit.
It would be unrealistic for any exporting nation to expect across-the-board positive trade balances with all its importing partners. Similarly, that export country doesn’t necessarily post a negative trade balance with each individual partner with which it exchanges exports and imports.
In 2024, Bolivia incurred the highest trade deficits with the following countries.
- mainland China: -US$861.3 million (country-specific trade deficit in 2024)
- Argentina: -$579.4 million
- United States: -$503.6 million
- Chile: -$467.7 million
- Peru: -$402.4 million
- Mexico: -$145.9 million
- Switzerland: -$136.3 million
- Paraguay: -$102.2 million
- Sweden: -$96.7 million
- Uruguay: -$84.6 million
Among Bolivia’s trading partners that cause the greatest negative trade balances, Bolivian deficits with Argentina (up 596.4%), Peru (up 173.3%) and Uruguay (up 33.7%) grew from 2023 to 2024.
These cashflow deficiencies clearly indicate Bolivia’s competitive disadvantages with the above countries, but also represent key opportunities for Bolivia to develop country-specific strategies to strengthen its overall position in international trade.
Countries Generating Bolivia’s Best Trade Surpluses
Based on Investopedia’s definition of net importer, a country whose total value of all imported goods is lower than its value of all exports is said to have a positive trade balance or surplus.
In 2024, Bolivia earned the highest trade surpluses with the following countries.
- Japan: US$510.1 million (country-specific trade surplus in 2024)
- South Korea: $499.7 million
- United Arab Emirates: $474.1 million
- Colombia: $383 million
- India: $188.7 million
- Australia: $185.6 million
- Ecuador: $175.1 million
- Netherlands: $161.2 million
- United Kingdom: $139.8 million
- Canada: $104.6 million
Among Bolivia’s trading partners that cause the greatest negative trade balances, Bolivian deficits with the United Kingdom (up 118.9%), Australia (up 110.6%) and South Korea (up 48.7%) grew at the fastest pace from 2023 to 2024.
These positive cashflow streams indicate Bolivia’s competitive advantages with the above countries, but also represent key opportunities for Bolivia to develop country-specific strategies to optimize its overall position in international trade.
Companies Servicing Bolivian Trading Partners
Not one Bolivian corporation ranks among Forbes Global 2000.
Wikipedia lists some exporting companies from Bolivia. Selected examples are shown below:
- Banco Mercantil Santa Cruz (financial services)
- Banco Nacional de Bolivia (financial services)
- Boliviana de Aviación (airlines)
- Línea Aérea Amaszonas (airlines)
- Transportes Aéreos Bolivianos (air cargo)
- YPFB (oil, gas)
See also Bolivia’s Top 10 Exports, Bolivia’s Top 10 Imports and Top South American Export Countries
Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, Field Listing: Imports – Commodities, The World Factbook. Accessed on February 2, 2026
Forbes Global 2000 rankings, The World’s Biggest Public Companies. Accessed on February 2, 2026
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on February 2, 2026
Trade Map, International Trade Centre. Accessed on February 2, 2026
Wikipedia, Bolivia. Accessed on February 2, 2026
Wikipedia, Airlines of Bolivia. Accessed on February 2, 2026
Wikipedia, Category: Banks of Bolivia. Accessed on February 2, 2026
Wikipedia, Oil and Gas Companies of Bolivia. Accessed on February 2, 2026