What products were exported from Latin America before the 1900?

Before the 1900s, Latin America exported mainly commodities like agricultural goods, precious metals, and minerals, due to its resource-rich nature and colonial influences. Here are some of the key exports from different regions of Latin America:

1. Central America: Primary products for export included coffee (e.g., from El Salvador, Guatemala), cacao, indigo (Guatemala, El Salvador), cochineal dye (Guatemala), tropical fruits, and hardwoods.

2. South America: Dominant exports varied by country but some major products included:

* Brazil: Coffee, sugar, tobacco, and rubber (late 19th century)

* Venezuela: Coffee, cacao, and cattle

* Argentina: Beef, wool, leather, wheat, and maize (corn)

* Chile: Silver, copper, nitrates (mainly from the Atacama region)

* Peru: Silver, sugar, and cotton

* Bolivia: Silver, tin, and copper

* Colombia: Coffee, tobacco, and gold

* Ecuador: Cacao, coffee, and tagua nuts (for buttons)

3. Caribbean: Sugar was the predominant crop in Spanish, French, and British colonial islands, along with other export products like coffee (Puerto Rico), rum, molasses, and dye-producing plants (e.g., indigo).

These products were exported to markets in Europe, North America, and other regions around the world, contributing to the global trade of the time. However, the export-oriented economy also often led to a dependency on specific commodities, vulnerability to price fluctuations, and a lack of industrial development in many Latin American countries.