Paraguay's maquila regime closed the first four months of 2026 with exports of US$471 million, an increase of US$83 million compared to the same period the previous year, according to data from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MIC). In April alone, shipments totaled US$100 million, with more than 5,160 authorized operations.
The National Council of Maquiladora Export Industries (CNIME), linked to the MIC, reported that 24 new maquila programs were approved in April, with projected investments of US$57 million and an estimated creation of 1,154 jobs. The sectors that most boosted exports were auto parts, food, clothing, and aluminum manufactures, which together accounted for 71% of total shipments.
The main destination for goods was Mercosur, which absorbed 82% of shipments, led by Brazil. Other markets included the Netherlands, the United States, and Chile. The president of the Paraguay-Brazil Chamber of Commerce (CCPB), Fabio Fustagno, highlighted that Brazil is consolidating as the main destination and also as a source of direct investments, citing textile companies Karsten and Dohler among the new projects.
In March, Minister Marco Riquelme visited the plant in Mariano Roque Alonso where the alliance between Paraguayan Grupo Texcin and Brazilian Grupo Dass operates. The project plans an investment of US$40 million and more than 600 jobs. Riquelme stated that the first pieces of the Fila brand have already been produced in Paraguay, initially to supply the Brazilian market, with plans for expansion to other Latin American countries. Grupo Dass also manufactures for Umbro, Nike, ASICS, and Champion.
Currently, 92% of maquiladora companies are concentrated in the departments of Alto Paraná, Central, Capital, and Amambay. The sector directly employs 35,357 people, an annual increase of 2,645 positions. The areas of clothing, auto parts, intangible services, plastics, and chemical-pharmaceuticals concentrate 72% of jobs, and 45% of the workforce is female. The regime's trade balance is positive, with exports exceeding imports by 83%. The maquila regime allows production with a single tax of 1%, provided that products are exported; sales in the domestic market follow general taxation.