Brazil & Southern Cone - September 2012 (ISSN 1741-4431)

Uruguay’s exports increased by 15.1% in the first eight months of the year compared with the same period in 2011, totalling US$6.195bn, according to official statistics. Imports only increased by 0.6% over the same period, leaving Uruguay with a trade surplus of US$690m.

Soya is the main export product, accounting for 22.2% of total exports over this period, the equivalent of US$1.373bn. Such is the rapid rise of soya exports that they now generate nearly twice the export revenues of beef, which amounted to 11.2% of total exports.

Brazil remains the principal destination for Uruguay’s exports, taking 17.5% of the total, followed by the Nueva Palmira free zone (12.8%), and China (12.3%).