On 18 March 2025, in Buena Vista (Santa Cruz), a group of residents and transporters carried out a demonstration by blocking the road between Santa Cruz and Cochabamba departments, demanding fuel supply and denouncing speculation in fuel prices in the region.

Supply-chain Risk Briefing

1) Summary On March 18, residents and transport companies in Buenavista, Santa Cruz Department, Bolivia blocked the main Santa Cruz-Cochabamba highway in protest of fuel supply shortages and price speculation. While classified as a peaceful demonstration, it has blocked a core logistics axis in eastern Bolivia. Current rating is low, but the potential spread of the fuel crisis should be monitored.

2) Supply-chain impact

• Domestic logistics disruption: The Santa Cruz-Cochabamba connection is a core transport axis linking Bolivia's largest economic city with the central region, with disruptions to agricultural and mineral transport expected if blockades continue
• Energy supply-chain vulnerability: Fuel shortage protests are the core issue, with diesel and gasoline supply instability in Bolivia raising concerns of ripple effects across transport and manufacturing sectors
• Agricultural sector risk: Santa Cruz is Bolivia's largest agricultural region, with potential delays in shipments of major export items including soybeans, sugar, and beef
• Brazil connectivity impact: Santa Cruz serves as a major trade hub with Brazil, potentially causing indirect effects on cross-border logistics

3) Watch points

• Protest spread: If fuel shortage protests spread to other regions, potential escalation to nationwide logistics disruption
• Government fuel policy response: Trends in Bolivia government announcements of fuel subsidy policy changes or supply stabilization measures
• Duration of road blockades: Concerns of deepening regional supply-chain disruptions if major transport route blockages become prolonged