Exports of goods rose by 3% in the first five months of 2026

Uruguayan exports of goods continue to perform well in 2026. According to the Monthly Foreign Trade Report prepared by the Competitive Intelligence Department of Uruguay XXI, export applications for goods, including those from free trade zones, totaled US$5.271 billion between January and May, representing a year-over-year increase of 3%. Although May closed with a 3% decline compared to the same month of the previous year, the cumulative result allowed the growth trajectory observed since the beginning of the year to be sustained.

In May, exports totaled US$1.142 billion. Beef, pulp, and soybeans were the main products exported during the month and accounted for a significant portion of exports. The monthly decline was mainly due to lower sales of beef and pulp, which were not offset by the 45% increase recorded for soybeans.

Year-to-date, beef remained the leading export product, with sales of US$1.054 billion. Pulp ranked second with US$931 million, while dairy products consolidated their position as the third-largest export category, reaching US$346 million.

Soybeans were among the best-performing products in May. Exports of the grain reached US$180 million, a 45% year-over-year increase, driven by progress in the harvest and the start of the commercial season.

Dairy products also performed notably well, with exports totaling US$ 85 million and year-over-year growth of 29%.

Among the main export destinations, China remained in first place with purchases of US$ 297 million in May, followed by the European Union and Brazil. Sales to the Chinese market were driven primarily by soybeans, pulp, and beef.

Topic of the Month: Exports Viewed from a Regional Perspective

The May edition of the report includes an analysis of goods exports by department, allowing for an observation of how the country’s export activity is distributed geographically. In 2025, goods exports reached US$ 13.494 billion, with Canelones, Colonia, and Montevideo accounting for nearly 45% of the national total. The export structure varies across departments, reflecting each region’s production specializations.

While Canelones leads in beef exports and Montevideo stands out for vehicle sales, Colonia, Durazno, and Río Negro show a strong presence of activities linked to free trade zones and cellulose production. In turn, Soriano, Paysandú, and Flores have soybeans as their main export product, while rice leads in eastern and northern departments such as Treinta y Tres, Rocha, and Artigas. The analysis also shows that China, Brazil, the European Union, and the United States were the main destinations for departmental exports, although with different production profiles depending on the region of the country.

Read the full report here.