On 19 March 2025, in El Alto (La Paz), a group of residents and transporters, members of the Andean Federation of Drivers carried out a demonstration by setting at least 43 blockades in different parts of the city, such as 6 de Marzo, Bolivia, and Litoral Avenues, as well as Viacha highway and La Paz - El Alto toll, rallying against what they called, the economic crisis the country is undergoing and increase in food prices and fuel shortage. At some points demonstrators assaulted transporters who were not participating in the demonstration, but no clashes were reported. The inter-departmental bus station in La Paz was shut down due to the blockades. The union called an indefinite strike as part of their demonstration. The director of the Bolivian State Oil Company (YPFB) denounced that demonstrators were throwing rocks at the tanks transporting fuel to La Paz and blocking the transit.

Supply-chain Risk Briefing - El Alto, Bolivia Protests

1) Summary On March 19, 2025, transporters in El Alto, Bolivia staged blockade protests at 43 locations, protesting the economic crisis, rising food prices, and fuel shortages. Major roads including 6 de Marzo, Bolivia, and Litoral avenues, as well as the Viacha highway and La Paz-El Alto tollgate were blocked, with attacks on transporters occurring in some areas. The current risk level is assessed as low, but this demonstrates Bolivia's economic instability.

2) Supply-chain impact

• Blockade of major transport axis between El Alto-La Paz temporarily suspends logistics flow in Bolivia's highland region
• El Alto serves as one of Bolivia's largest commercial hubs, playing a critical role as a hub for agricultural and mineral transport
• With fuel shortages and rising food prices as the backdrop for protests, potential for similar logistics disruption incidents to recur
• Bolivia's landlocked nature creates high dependence on overland trade routes with neighboring countries, amplifying the ripple effects of internal transport network blockades

3) Watch points

• Whether the Bolivian government announces fuel supply policies and economic stabilization measures
• Timing of traffic normalization on the El Alto-La Paz route and trends of additional protest expansion
• Potential spread of transport industry grievances nationwide and occurrence of solidarity protests in other regions