Around 19 March 2025 (as reported), in Ivirgarzama (Cochabamba), at least 500 transporters carried out a demonstration by taking the premises of the Ivirgarzama toll and severely damaging the infrastructure, demanding fuel supply and rejecting the collection of tolls during the ongoing fuel shortage. The group also called for road improvements.

Bolivia Cochabamba Transport Industry Protests Supply-chain Risk Briefing

1) Summary On March 19, 2025, approximately 500 transport companies in Ivirgazama, Cochabamba Department, Bolivia, staged violent protests against fuel supply disruptions and toll collection. Protesters occupied tollgate facilities and severely damaged infrastructure, linked to ongoing fuel shortage issues. Risk level is low, but transport infrastructure damage and fuel supply issues are acting in combination.

2) Supply-chain impact

• Land transport network blockade: Occupation of Ivirgazama tollgate causing disruptions to major road network operations within Cochabamba Department, potential cargo transport delays
• Fuel supply chain instability: Fuel shortage issues raised by transport industry risk leading to increased logistics costs and transport service interruptions
• Agricultural product transport impact: Cochabamba is a major agricultural region in Bolivia, raising concerns of temporary disruptions to agricultural and food distribution networks
• Infrastructure recovery delays: Expected decrease in transit efficiency during recovery period due to tollgate facility damage

3) Watch points

• Bolivian government's fuel supply normalization measures and progress of negotiations with transport industry
• Recovery schedule for damaged tollgate infrastructure and resumption of road operations in Cochabamba region
• Monitoring needed for whether similar transport industry protests spread to other regions