Paraguay’s total exports reached US$6.2059 billion in the first four months of 2026, a significant increase of 14.6% compared to the same period in the previous year. According to the latest Foreign Trade Report from the Central Bank of Paraguay, this strong performance has resulted in a trade surplus of more than US$84 million.
The growth was primarily driven by registered exports, which accounted for 68.2% of the total value. This key segment alone brought in US$4.2304 billion. Furthermore, this figure represents an impressive 18.1% increase over the value recorded by the end of April last year, highlighting a robust upward trend in the nation’s productive capacity.
Key drivers of export growth
Within the registered exports category, primary products were a major contributor, achieving an export value of US$1.7764 billion. This was closely followed by industrial manufactures, which reported exports worth US$1.4283 billion. The combined strength of these sectors provided the main impetus for the overall positive results.
The agricultural sector, in particular, delivered a stellar performance in Paraguay’s exports. Soybean exports were the dominant force, generating US$1.5101 billion in revenue. This marks a substantial 43.2% increase when compared with the first four months of the previous year. In addition to soybeans, wheat was another agricultural commodity that reflected a notable increase in its export volumes during the period.
Performance across specific sectors
The industrial manufacturing sector also demonstrated significant expansion in Paraguay’s exports, with specific segments recording export values of US$733.4 million. This represents a remarkable rise of 32.1% compared to the same period last year. The Central Bank report attributes this growth principally to greater shipments of copper scrap and waste. Moreover, increased exports of wires, cables, other electrical conductors, insecticides, and herbicides also played a crucial role in this positive outcome.
Meanwhile, goods exported under the special *Maquila* manufacturing regime totalled US$469.8 million. This figure represents a considerable increase of 29.7%. The main destinations for these products were Brazil, Argentina, the United States, and the Netherlands. Re-exports also made a substantial contribution, accounting for 27% of the total. This category reached a value of US$1.6773 billion, which signified a healthy growth of 9.3% compared to the previous year.
A mixed picture in the meat industry
The meat export sector, however, presented varied results. Bovine meat exports, excluding offal, experienced a downturn, with shipments falling by 11.1% compared to the same period last year. The total value of these exports stood at US$577.2 million by the close of April, with Chile, the United States, and Israel as the principal markets.
In sharp contrast, the pork industry showed exceptional growth. Pork exports surged by 62.6%, reaching a value of approximately US$18.8 million, with Taiwan being the primary destination. Similarly, the poultry sector performed well, with exports (excluding offal) reaching US$4.4 million, an increase of 11.4%. Iraq was the leading market for Paraguayan poultry, followed by Vietnam. The report also noted that during April, poultry meat was exported to a total of 16 different countries. Recently, Paraguay gained full primary meat market access in Taiwan after poultry approval.
Not all sectors saw growth, as fuels and energy had a negative impact, with exports totalling US$292.2 million.
Imports rise as trade balance remains in surplus
On the other side of the economic ledger, total imports also saw a significant increase. By the end of April, imports reached US$6.1217 billion, marking a 12.2% rise compared to the same four-month period in the previous year. This indicates a growing demand for foreign goods within the Paraguayan economy.
Despite this substantial increase in imports, the exceptional performance of the export sector ensured a positive trade balance. Consequently, the country’s foreign trade balance for the period registered a surplus of US$84.2 million. This surplus demonstrates that the value of goods Paraguay sold to international markets successfully exceeded the value of the goods it purchased from abroad.
