On 15 March 2025, in Santa Cruz de la Sierra (Santa Cruz), residents from Terracor and Valle Sanchez localities staged a pot-banging demonstration at Valle Sanchez Bridge, denouncing fuel shortage and increase in food prices. The group called for measures from the national government to normalize fuel services.

Summary

On March 15, 2025, residents of Teracor and Valle Sánchez areas in Santa Cruz, Bolivia held peaceful protests against fuel shortages and rising food prices. While classified as a low-risk demonstration, protesters demanded fuel supply normalization and urged government response.

Supply-chain impact

• Santa Cruz is Bolivia's largest economic city serving as an agricultural and manufacturing hub, with concerns that continued fuel shortages could disrupt regional logistics and production activities
• Rising food prices indicate instability in Bolivia's domestic market as an agricultural exporter, with potential indirect impacts on major agricultural commodity supply chains including soybeans and quinoa
• If fuel supply issues spread nationwide, there is risk of reduced export competitiveness due to increased transportation costs in mining (lithium, silver, zinc) and agricultural sectors
• Currently at the peaceful protest stage, but potential for escalation to larger-scale social unrest if fuel shortages persist

Watch points

• Need to track whether the Bolivian government announces and implements fuel supply normalization measures
• Monitor whether protests spread to regions outside Santa Cruz and changes in protest scale