A Brazilian industrial group that manufactures clothing for global sportswear brands such as Nike and Adidas has confirmed a major investment in Paraguay. The project will add 600 jobs to the country’s growing manufacturing sector.
Grupo Dass, a Brazilian company with 45 years of experience in the sportswear industry and a global workforce of more than 27,000 people, has partnered with Grupo Texcin. Together, they will open a production facility at Parque Industrial Almasol, an industrial park on the outskirts of Asunción. The investment amounts to approximately US$40 million.
A Nike and Adidas factory takes shape in Paraguay
The new factory in Paraguay produces apparel for global sportswear brands including Nike, Adidas, Fila, Umbro, and ASICS. Grupo Dass holds regional licences for several of these: the company owns the Fila licence for all of Latin America and the Umbro licence for Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. The factory targets the Brazilian market in its initial phase, with plans to supply the local Paraguayan market and expand exports to other countries across Latin America.
The Maquila advantage
The investment reflects Paraguay’s growing appeal as a manufacturing destination. Grupo Dass chose to operate under the country’s maquila regime, a legal framework that allows foreign companies to import materials duty-free, manufacture goods locally, and export the finished products while paying a 1% tax on locally added value. Riquelme noted that Paraguay continues to attract industrial interest from around the world due to its competitive advantages and macroeconomic stability.
The minister also highlighted the employment profile of this type of industry. “These are industries that use little electricity but generate many jobs, especially for those looking for their first job, because these are low-complexity roles with fast on-the-job learning,” he said.
The Dass–Texcin partnership arrives as Paraguay implements a reformed maquila law, Law No. 7,547/2025, signed into regulation in April 2026, which expands the regime to include service exports and strengthens incentives for manufacturing investors.
600 jobs and a regional export platform
The 600 direct jobs generated by the plant represent a meaningful contribution to Paraguay’s maquila workforce, which stood at approximately 35,000 workers at the end of 2025. From its base at the Parque Industrial Almasol, Grupo Dass aims to build a regional production and distribution platform for the sportswear brands it represents, with exports directed primarily towards Brazil and other South American markets.
Riquelme dismissed social media reports suggesting that the Paraguay investment was linked to the closure of a Dass facility in Argentina. “That is not true,” he said. The company has been operating in Paraguay for some time, and the new plant represents an expansion of its regional presence, not a relocation.
Paraguay’s manufacturing boom does not exist in isolation. The country recorded almost 5% economic growth in the first quarter of 2026.
