Uruguay

Paraguay recorded deflation of 0.3% in June, reducing its annual inflation rate to 2.1%, the second lowest in the region, behind only Ecuador.

Taiwan was the primary destination, purchasing 86% of the pork exported by Paraguay in the first half of the year, which saw an 11% growth in volume and a 15% increase in revenue.

Paraguay and Colombia strengthen cooperation against drug trafficking and transnational organized crime in meeting led by SENAD.

The EU's sanitary restrictions on Brazilian beef create opportunities for Paraguay to expand its exports to Europe, competing with Uruguay and Argentina for market share.

The price of live pigs in Paraguay has fallen to G. 9,700/kg, the lowest level since 2023, driven by regional and global factors such as export blockades, sanitary outbreaks, and shifts in demand.

In 2026, Paraguay's apparent labor productivity was US$13,728 per person, placing it below eight Latin American countries, including Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay, and surpassing only Bolivia.

The Paraguayan forestry sector exported $8,575,626 worth of wood products in May 2026, reaching 28 countries, with the United States as the main destination, according to the National Forestry Institute (Infona).

Senave recorded a record in Paraguay's stevia exports through May 2026, with a 518% increase compared to the previous year, totaling 142 tons exported mainly to Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, and Spain.

Paraguayan exports with a Certificate of Origin totaled $693 million in May, with the Americas as the main market ($510 million), led by Brazil ($190 million), followed by Argentina ($170 million) and Chile ($60 million).

Paraguay ended May with the third-lowest country risk in Latin America and the Caribbean, with an EMBI of 104 basis points, trailing only Uruguay (61 points) and Chile (86 points), according to data from Bloomberg Línea based on the index compiled by J.P. Morgan.

Brazil has proposed the creation of a free flight zone within Mercosur to allow national airlines to operate domestic flights in other member countries, aiming to enhance regional integration and facilitate low-cost flights.

Delegations from Mercosur countries and associates met in Asunción to discuss updating travel documents, information exchange, and document security, with Bolivia absent.

On May 28, Asunción will welcome business leaders from Mercosur to discuss trade facilitation, logistics infrastructure, and reducing bureaucratic barriers. The meeting, organized by Paraguay's National Chamber of Commerce and Services, will include representatives from Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Bolivia, and will feature dialogue with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and the National Foreign Ministry.

Deputy Industry Minister Javier Viveros said the 56th General Assembly of the Latin American Association of Development Finance Institutions (Alide), held in Asunción, strengthens the country brand and positions Paraguay as a strategic destination for investment and industrial development. The event, running through May 22, brings together representatives from development banks and multilateral organizations, with the National Development Bank (BNF) as host.

While Mercosur recorded an 8% increase in beef exports between January and April 2026, Paraguay saw a 25% contraction, the largest relative decline in the bloc. The average price per ton rose 17%, but shipped volume fell to 87,899 tons.

Uruguayan Gianina García Troche, partner of drug trafficker Sebastián Marset, was heard for the second time by the Paraguayan Public Ministry on May 12 at the Emboscada women's prison. The interrogation was conducted by prosecutor Deny Yoon Pak and takes place on the eve of the deadline for the conclusion of the investigation, which expires on May 20.

The Asunción Stock Exchange (Bvpasa) is working with the Central Bank of Paraguay to enable the trading of currency futures (forwards) on the stock market as a hedging tool for importing and exporting companies amid exchange rate volatility. Bvpasa President Pablo Cheng also highlighted the potential of the Investor Pass program to attract foreign capital and provide liquidity to the market.

While the European Union restricts imports of Brazilian beef due to the use of antibiotics as growth promoters, Paraguay claims to have already complied with the regulation since 2023/2024, ensuring the continuity of its exports to the bloc.

Of the nearly 9,800 people serving house arrest in Paraguay, only 123 use electronic ankle monitors, according to official data. The government admits that most lack effective monitoring and plans to expand the system.