On 14 March 2025, in Batallas (La Paz), a group of residents and transporters carried out a demonstration by blocking the road between La Paz and Copacabana municipalities with tires and other objects set on fire, demanding fuel supply. The group demanded the right to work.

Supply-chain Risk Briefing: Bolivia Fuel Supply Protests

1) Summary On March 14, 2025, residents and transporters in Batallas, La Paz Department, Bolivia, blocked the La Paz-Copacabana road demanding fuel supplies. The protesters set fire to tires and other objects to block the road, while also demanding labor rights guarantees. The current rating is 'Low' but attention is needed for the potential spread of fuel shortage issues.

2) Supply-chain impact

• Regional logistics blockade: Road blockade on La Paz-Copacabana segment causing temporary disruption to western Bolivia's logistics network
• Fuel supply-chain vulnerability: With fuel shortage as the cause of protests, this indicates instability in Bolivia's energy supply-chain
• Transportation industry ripple effects: With transporter participation, risk of transportation service disruptions increases in similar regions
• Tourism route impact: Copacabana is a major tourist destination, and blockades on this segment raise concerns of damage to tourism-related supply-chains

3) Watch points

• Whether the Bolivian government announces fuel supply normalization measures and timeline
• Signs of protest spread to other areas near La Paz and trends of additional transportation industry participation
• Potential spillover of fuel shortage issues to other countries in the South American region