Paraguay’s Dirección Nacional de Ingresos Tributarios (DNIT) has registered 963 companies under the Régimen de Turismo de Compras (RTC), a special VAT regime for imports and sales of goods to non-resident foreign buyers, according to an analysis by ABC Color. The regime covers products such as electronics, optics, musical instruments, sporting goods, and other commercial items, and is implemented mainly in border cities including Asunción, Ciudad del Este, Encarnación, Pedro Juan Caballero, Pilar, and Saltos del Guairá.
The registry reveals a clear commercial structure: 680 small enterprises, 210 medium-sized firms, and 73 large companies. ABC Color notes that the predominance of small businesses reflects both entrepreneurial dynamism and a fragmented business landscape with limited presence of large chains or industrial conglomerates.
Geographically, Ciudad del Este concentrates 624 companies—nearly two-thirds of the total—cementing its role as the primary hub for shopping tourism in Paraguay. Asunción follows with 165 firms, then Encarnación (58) and Pedro Juan Caballero (49). Smaller numbers appear in Corpus Christi, San Lorenzo, and other locations. The distribution underscores the regime’s territorial logic, closely tied to border dynamics and price differentials with neighboring Brazil and Argentina.
ABC Color reports that the list includes well-known importers, retailers, technology firms, and distributors, indicating that the regime benefits not only small border shops but also larger companies with national distribution capabilities. Several firms are listed as “free-zone users,” highlighting the role of free-trade zones in import, re-export, and regional logistics.
While the RTC remains a key tool for sustaining commercial activity in border areas, ABC Color points out challenges: high concentration in trade and re-export exposes firms to exchange-rate fluctuations, regulatory changes in Brazil or Argentina, and shifts in regional tax policies. The predominance of small firms also means limited financial capacity to absorb external shocks. The analysis suggests Paraguay faces the challenge of transforming this commercial activity into higher-value processes involving logistics, technology, and services linked to international trade.