The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) revised its growth projection for Paraguay in 2026, adjusting the estimate from 4.5% to 4.3%. Despite the slight reduction, the country remains among the economies with the highest relative expansion in the region, which is expected to grow an average of 2.2% this year.
Paraguay's performance, although lower than the 6% recorded in 2025, is driven mainly by the dynamics of the agricultural sector, which maintains significant weight in the national productive and export structure. ECLAC notes that the higher inflow of foreign exchange from this sector has led to an appreciation of the guaraní against the dollar.
However, the agency warns that the high dependence on primary products leaves the economy vulnerable to fluctuations in international prices for inputs such as fertilizers and fuels, whose rising costs impact domestic expenses and competitiveness. For 2027, the projection is for a further slowdown, with growth near 4%.
In the regional scenario, only Venezuela (6.5%) and Nicaragua (4.5%) are expected to surpass Paraguay's growth. Other projections include El Salvador (3.9%), Costa Rica (3.7%), Honduras (3.5%), Argentina (3.3%), Peru (3.2%), Colombia (2.6%), Ecuador (2.4%), and Brazil (2.2%).
Beyond external risks, such as geopolitical uncertainty and global financial volatility, ECLAC highlights structural problems affecting the region, such as high informality and low productivity growth, factors that limit the ability to sustainably raise incomes and reduce social inequalities.