“Mapping Chinese investments in South American soy and beef”, 14 July 2020

… China accounted for three quarters of Brazil’s soy and half of its beef exports, the Brazilian Department of Trade and International Relations reported in May. The figures represent record highs.

While the global political and economic outlook may be volatile, the survival of the China–South America agriculture trade attests to stable Chinese demand. And this is supported by major investments from both public and private Chinese investors in logistics and other industries involved in the supply chain.

The roaring trade may be good news for agribusiness, but surging sales and investment in associated infrastructure carry big risks for vulnerable South American biomes the Amazon, Cerrado and Chaco – vital stores of carbon. Brazil is not the only country in the region that has grown or established trades in agricultural commodities with China… Argentina, Uruguay and Bolivia have too.

A new interactive map by Diálogo Chino shows where and what stage in the supply chain Chinese investors have increased their presence in South America’s soy and beef industries since 2009. It plots projects financed by China’s policy banks, foreign direct investment, and loans from the China-led New Development Bank. The map draws on existing data compiled by the Inter-American Dialogue and Boston University and the China-Latin America Academic Network…

As global trade deals with shocks and realignments, the map is intended as a useful starting point for those wishing to better understand how Chinese investments support a multi-billion dollar trade – and how they interact with some of the world’s most precious ecosystems.