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Export Market

Uruguay

ISO: UY / URY

Country Profile

Capital Montevideo
Population 3.5M
GDP $81.0B (2024)
GDP per Capita $23,907
Income Level High Income
Currency Uruguayan peso (UYU $)
Language Spanish
Timezone UTC-03:00
Region South America

Trade Partners

Uruguay Exports To

  • China 21.0%
  • Brazil 17.0%
  • USA 8.0%
  • Argentina 5.0%
  • Netherlands 5.0%

Key exports: wood pulp, beef, milk, rice, wood (2023)

Uruguay Imports From

  • Brazil 22.0%
  • China 18.0%
  • Argentina 11.0%
  • USA 9.0%
  • Nigeria 4.0%

Key imports: crude petroleum, refined petroleum, cars, trucks, fertilizers (2023)

Economic Overview

high-income, export-oriented South American economy; South America’s largest middle class; low socioeconomic inequality; growing homicide rates; growing Chinese and EU relations; 2019 Argentine recession hurt; key milk, beef, rice, and wool exporter

Government: presidential republic

UK Trade Status

No FTA

There is currently no free trade agreement between the UK and Uruguay. Standard WTO terms apply.

Trade Barriers

2 active barriers affecting UK exporters

Lack of intellectual property protection for pharmaceutical products

A new patent law in Uruguay has decreased the level of intellectual protection to those pharmaceutical products that are not developed in the country. Currently, compensation for violation of intellectual property rights can only be claimed once the patent has …

Sectors: Healthcare services, Pharmaceuticals and biotechnology

Reported: 29 Dec 2021

Whisky exports from the UK to Uruguay subject to Specific Internal Tax 54% on the customs value

The Specific Internal Tax (IMESI) is applied to the first sale made by exporters or producers of certain products - generally considered luxury goods - in the local market. The percentage of tax applied varies for each item taxed, and …

Sectors: Food and drink

Reported: 27 Aug 2020

Geographic Region

Latin America and Caribbean

Trading Bloc Memberships

Uruguay is a member of the following trade agreements and economic blocs.

Mercosur Southern Common Market Customs Union

Export Guidance

Relevant guidance for exporting to Uruguay.

Start Your Export Journey

Export to the EU after Brexit Start exporting from the UK Manage your export compliance

Also in This Region

🇦🇷 Argentina 🇧🇸 Bahamas FTA 🇧🇧 Barbados FTA 🇧🇿 Belize FTA 🇧🇴 Bolivia 🇧🇷 Brazil 🇨🇱 Chile FTA 🇨🇴 Colombia FTA

Official Resources

Government export support for Uruguay.

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