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Survey of Exporting Firms in Latin America and the Caribbean: Understanding the New Export DNA (Second Edition, September 2021 Dataset)

By Productivity, Trade and Innovation Sector (VPS/PTI/PTI)

The Institute for the Integration of Latin America and the Caribbean (INTAL), part of the IDB’s Integration and Trade Sector, launched the second edition of its Caribbean enterprise survey to assess how firms in the region are navigating the ongoing pandemic. Conducted in mid-2021, this survey captures the voices of 405 export-oriented firms from across Latin America and the Caribbean. It offers a critical snapshot of how businesses are adapting their strategies, managing disruptions, and embracing innovation.

Key Themes

  • Evolution of exports during the second pandemic year
  • Barriers to trade and supply chain issues
  • Strategic responses to COVID-19 impacts
  • Public policy support measures received
  • Firms’ expectations and investment outlooks

This dataset contributes to the understanding of Caribbean productivity and innovation, highlighting digital adoption, export diversification, and the shift to e-commerce platforms as emerging trends.
It also includes a complete methodological appendix and a sample of the original survey tool, ensuring transparency and research utility.

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Metadata & use

Identifier https://doi.org/10.60966/xe5eg9rh
License Creative Commons Attribution–NonCommercial–NoDerivs 3.0 IGO
Related Knowledge Product
Citation

Institute for the Integration of Latin America and the Caribbean (2021). Survey of Exporting Firms in Latin America and the Caribbean: Understanding the New Export DNA (Second Edition, September 2021 Dataset). IDB Open Data. https://doi.org/10.60966/xe5eg9rh
Published date 2021-09-22
Modified date 2026-07-15
Tags/Keywords Exporting Firms · Investments
Language
  1. Spanish
In Series Exporting Firms in Latin America and the Caribbean Surveys
Temporal coverage 2021-2021
Country
Argentina
Bolivia
Brazil
Chile
Colombia
Costa Rica
Ecuador
El Salvador
Guatemala
Guyana
Honduras
Mexico
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Suriname
Uruguay
Venezuela
Region Latin America and the Caribbean
Publisher
Inter-American Development Bank
Author
Institute for the Integration of Latin America and the Caribbean
Data collection type Survey Data
Statistical type Cross-sectional Data
Data structure Structured Data
Data notes

What is this dataset about?

A regional enterprise survey focused on exporting firms in Latin America and the Caribbean, designed to understand how companies navigated the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic—including adaptation, innovation, and expectations.

Who was surveyed and when?

The second edition (Year 2) includes 405 export-oriented firms, surveyed in mid-2021.

What geographic scope does it cover?

The survey targets the Caribbean within the broader context of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), capturing firms' experiences that inform regional export dynamics.

What are the key topics covered?

  • Evolution of exports during Year 2 of the pandemic
  • Barriers to trade and supply-chain disruptions
  • Strategic responses and business adaptation
  • Public policy support received by firms
  • Expectations and investment outlooks
  • Innovation and digital adoption, including e-commerce and export diversification

Does the dataset include information on trade barriers?

Yes. Firms report on trade frictions and supply-chain issues encountered during the pandemic, enabling analysis of constraints faced by exporting firms in Latin America and the Caribbean.

What does it say about innovation and digital adoption?

The dataset highlights innovation as a core theme, including evidence of the uptake of digital tools and a shift to e-commerce as part of firms' adaptation strategies.

How does it capture changes in export performance?

It tracks the evolution of exports in the second pandemic year, allowing users to compare how firms adjusted their strategies with those of earlier stages of COVID-19.

Are government support measures included?

Yes. Firms indicate which public policies support they received, facilitating an assessment of policy reach and perceived usefulness.

Is there information on expectations and investment plans?

Yes. The survey inquires about near-term expectations and investment outlooks, offering a forward-looking perspective on exporters' confidence in mid-2021.

What documentation accompanies the microdata?

The package includes a methodological appendix and a sample of the original survey tool, ensuring transparency for replication and analysis.

Can I use this to study firms' export behavior across the Caribbean?

Yes. The dataset is specifically suited for analyzing the behavior of Caribbean exporters within the LAC exporting ecosystem, with variables aligned with themes of trade barriers, adaptation, and innovation.

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