Uruguay goods exports rise 2% through July despite weaker China sales

Uruguay’s goods exports reached US$7.82 billion in the first seven months of 2026, up 2% from the same period last year, according to data from the country’s Exporters’ Union cited by Prensa Latina.

The increase was modest but positive, adding US$152 million to Uruguay’s export revenue between January and July. The result came despite weaker sales to China, Uruguay’s top export market, amid lower soybean shipments following drought-related problems in the previous crop season.

According to foreign trade data available on the DataLiner platform, Uruguay’s containerized exports reached 89,911 TEUs year to date, up 10% from the same period a year earlier. The chart below provides a month-by-month breakdown:

Containerized Exports | Uruguay | Jan-Jun | 2022-2026 | TEUs

Source: DataLiner (click here to request a demo)

Beef remained Uruguay’s leading export product, with lower volumes offset by stronger prices. Pulp ranked second, followed by soybeans, which posted weaker figures compared with the previous year.

China remained Uruguay’s main destination, with purchases totaling US$1.56 billion between January and July. That was down 18.6% from the same period in 2025, reflecting the impact of lower soybean availability.

Brazil ranked second among Uruguay’s export markets, with purchases of US$1.18 billion, or 15.1% of the total. Vehicles and dairy products were the main goods shipped to the neighboring market.

The European Union followed with US$1.12 billion in purchases, equivalent to 14.4% of Uruguay’s exports, and posted a 6.5% year-on-year increase. The United States ranked close behind, with US$910 million and an 11.5% share, driven largely by beef shipments.

Other relevant destinations included Argentina, which bought US$322 million in Uruguayan goods, up 6.3%; Mexico, with US$289 million; Türkiye, up 20.5% to US$288 million; and Algeria, broadly stable at US$179 million. South Korea and Israel also stood out among the top 10 destinations, supported by shipments of wheat, pulp, beef and live cattle.

For exporters, shipping companies and logistics operators, the data show a mixed but resilient picture for Uruguay goods exports. Beef and pulp continue to sustain high-value cargo flows, while weaker soybean shipments to China highlight the exposure of grain exports to weather-related supply shocks.

The performance also reinforces the importance of Uruguay’s diversified trade routes. China remains the country’s main buyer, but Brazil, the European Union and the United States continue to provide significant demand for industrial, dairy, forestry and animal-protein exports.

Source: PrensaLatina

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