Investment projects worth billions of dollars are being cancelled or delayed across Latin America as financial turmoil in the industrialised world casts its long shadow over the real economies of the region.

In Mexico, the communications and transport ministry has pushed back the deadline for companies to declare interests in bidding for Punta Colonet, the most ambitious port project in Mexican history. The project, intended to become one of the biggest ports in the world, is expected to handle 6m containers a year and cost up to $6bn.