Paraguayan chia exports rose from 16,645 tons in the 2018/19 harvest to 83,591 tons in 2025/26, nearly fivefold. The value of shipments increased from US$43.6 million to US$233.6 million over the same period. The figures were presented at the launch of the Paraguayan Chamber of Chia Exporters (Capachia), an industry association.
Ramón Fariña, the association’s vice-president, said Paraguay, Argentina and Bolivia exported similar volumes between 2018 and 2019. In the latest harvest, according to the comparison presented by the industry, Bolivia shipped about 12,000 tons, while Argentina exported between 6,000 and 7,000.
Paraguayan chia reaches 90 countries and is present in Europe, North and South America, Asia, Africa, Australia and the Middle East. Europe accounts for 38% of exports; the United States and Canada together represent 35%. Other major destinations include the Netherlands, Germany, Peru, the United Kingdom, Poland, Spain and Bolivia.
The area under cultivation grew from 101,697 hectares in 2022/23 to 261,699 hectares in 2025/26, a cumulative increase of 157.3%. Chia is grown in 12 departments. Canindeyú has the largest area, followed by San Pedro, Alto Paraná, Amambay and Caaguazú.
The value chain includes production, post-harvest management, processing, quality control and international marketing. To consolidate growth, the industry is seeking to strengthen productivity, quality, traceability, innovation and competitiveness, while organizing itself to meet the requirements of international markets.