GlobalSource Partners | Country Insights

A skimmable summary overlaid with our analysis and links. Headlines: * After a brief pause, the US-Iran conflict restarted, although oil remains well down from last week, at about $87. * The Houthis and allied Iraqi militias attacked Saudi oil sites and tankers, prompting counterstrikes. * T...

The stones in de la Espriella’s shoes

COLOMBIA · Report · 31 Jul 2026

President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella seems to have initially believed he could single-mindedly push his agenda forward, and that Congress would fall into line. By now he surely realizes that won’t happen. Former president Álvaro Uribe’s Centro Democrático (CD) party was not happy that, despit...

Senator Tereza Cristina may have been chosen as Flávio Bolsonaro’s VP, Wednesday is the deadline for parties to formally nominate candidates, and Justice Mendonça has opened an investigation into Lula’s son

BRAZIL POLITICS · Report · 31 Jul 2026

Senator Tereza Cristina (PP-MS) met with presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro (PL) to discuss the possibility of joining his ticket as the vice-presidential nominee. So far, there has been no confirmation that she has been chosen for the position. Wednesday is the deadline for political partie...

Webinar replay - Venezuela: The road ahead

VENEZUELA · Report · 31 Jul 2026

After Venezuela was shaken by twin earthquakes, bringing a tragic loss of life and destruction, the country must rebuild and try to move forward. How are recovery and reconstruction efforts proceeding? What are the economic and political ramifications for the country? How is Venezuela faring on o...

The Mega Bill nears the finish line

CHILE · Report · 31 Jul 2026

Chile’s Reconstruction and Economic and Social Development Bill (also known as the Mega Bill) is now approaching the final stage of the legislative process. Combining tax cuts, employment subsidies and regulatory reform, the bill has survived nearly every legislative hurdle pretty much intact. No...

TOPIC OF THE WEEK: Uzbekistan's fiscal strategy 2027-2029 sees no FX drama

CAUCASUS / CENTRAL ASIA · Report · 31 Jul 2026

The Uzbek sum is set to bend, not break. This is how the new 2027-2029 Fiscal Strategy sees the UZS—no FX cliff, but a slow, controlled crawl. This makes Tashkent’s FX outlook almost boring, and that is the bullish part. Uzbekistan’s new 2027–2029 Fiscal Strategy no longer publishes an explici...

Strong growth through May, Canal progress, and complex mining talks

PANAMA · Report · 30 Jul 2026

Economic activity continued to exceed expectations through May (+5.2%). Growth became broad-based as commerce, manufacturing, tourism, construction, and logistics contributed to the expansion. External demand remained the principal driver, supported by strong Canal activity, tourism, and the Coló...

China’s pressure point — the banks

CHINA ADVISORY · Report · 30 Jul 2026

China’s economy continues to slow as the property market fails to reach bottom. The technology sector, including EVs, and exports, remain strong but are not large enough to replace real estate. One of the key pressure points in China’s economy is the banking system. For decades, the government ha...

Monetary policy: NBU raises key policy rate to 15.5% in a preventive move amid rising risks

UKRAINE · In Brief · 30 Jul 2026

The NBU Board raised the key policy rate by 0.5 ppt to 15.5%, effective 31 July. This was the first rate increase since the beginning of the year. Recall that in January the NBU cut the rate from 15.5% to 15.0%, signalling the start of an easing cycle. However, no further easing followed since th...

Russian macro: “Reality is not what it seems”

RUSSIA ECONOMICS · Report · 30 Jul 2026

Rosstat recently released its usual monthly statistics for June and 1H26, with industrial data published last week. Around the same time, the CBR shared financial statistics as of July 1, including corporate and household credit figures. On Friday, July 26, the CBR cut the key rate by 25 bps to 1...

Growth wanes as external risks mount

CENTRAL AMERICA · Report · 30 Jul 2026 · 1 response

Costa Rica’s economy entered a slower-growth phase during H1 2026, confirming the deceleration projected earlier in the year. Domestic demand weakened as tighter monetary conditions, persistent colón appreciation, subdued inflation, slower credit growth and softer labor market conditions constra...

Q2 GDP falls mildly short of analyst forecasts but it should not create pressure on government and MNB policy

HUNGARY · In Brief · 30 Jul 2026

Preliminary data for GDP growth in Q2 has been reported at 0.4% qoq, 1.6% yoy, following 0.8% qoq, 1.7% yoy in Q1. So, GDP grew by 1.7% yoy in H1 this year.This actual falls short of the average analyst expectation of 0.7% qoq, but the shortfall is not particularly big. The key thing is that the ...

Bolsonaro’s defense stated he did not authorize the use of his image in the AI video shown during the PL convention, Flávio Bolsonaro will support Tarcísio’s reelection bid, and the PSB endorsed Lula’s candidacy

BRAZIL POLITICS · Report · 30 Jul 2026

Yesterday, former President Jair Bolsonaro's (PL) legal team filed a petition with the Brazilian Supreme Federal Court (STF) stating that he did not authorize the use of his image or voice in an artificial intelligence-generated video shown during the PL convention that formally nominated Senator...

Upcoming webinar - Venezuela: The road ahead

VENEZUELA · Report · 29 Jul 2026

Time: 10:00 AM EDT After Venezuela was shaken by twin earthquakes, bringing a tragic loss of life and destruction, the country must rebuild and try to move forward. How are recovery and reconstruction efforts proceeding? What are the economic and political ramifications for the country? How is...

Bi-Weekly Economic News Summary

KAZAKHSTAN · In Brief · 29 Jul 2026

Jul 16 International arbitration: United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) arbitration has temporarily banned Kazakhstan from enforcing KZT 2.3 trln fine against the operator (NCOC, North Caspian Operating Company) of the Kashagan oil field until an arbitration decision is ...