Paraguay's exchange houses closed the first quarter of 2026 with a profit of G. 27,388 million (US$ 4.2 million), an 18.1% year-on-year decline – the steepest since the start of the year. The result reflects a combination of lower operating margin and strong guarani appreciation.
According to consultancy Mentu, the operating margin of exchange entities fell 2.8% year-on-year to G. 78.91 million (US$ 12 million). Within that total, gains from foreign exchange operations rose nominally by G. 27,612, indicating a relatively better currency position, helped by the appreciation of the local currency.
However, the 18.6% drop in the guarani-dollar exchange rate during the period was one of the factors pressuring profit. The valuation margin – the difference between the book value and market value of foreign currency positions – plunged 35.7% year-on-year, limiting the overall result, Mentu explained.
The commercial dollar closed the last session at G. 6,170 for sale.