Photo: Wikimedia Commons.
In the first half of 2025, Uruguay achieved a USD 187.1 million trade surplus with China, standing out as one of the few Latin American countries to record a positive balance with the Asian giant. The result was driven by a 3.4% rise in exports, while imports grew faster, at 13%, but not enough to offset the surplus.
Wood pulp led exports, generating USD 533.3 million, or 33.9% of the total, with a 6% year-on-year increase. Seeds and oilseeds followed, accounting for 29.4% of exports at USD 461.4 million, despite a 1.8% drop. Frozen beef, a signature product for Uruguay, made up 5.7% of sales to China, reinforcing the country’s role as a food supplier to Asia.
On the import side, manufactured and technological goods dominated. Electrical and electronic devices, including phones, computers, and monitors, represented 17.7% of imports, totaling USD 245 million. These figures illustrate Uruguay’s dependence on Chinese high-value-added goods.
The surplus is significant considering that Uruguay has often recorded deficits in its trade with China in past years. The 2025 figures highlight the strength of the forestry sector and the resilience of agricultural exports, boosted by China’s steady demand for raw materials.
Experts argue that this result positions Uruguay as a reliable supplier of strategic commodities such as pulp, soy, and beef. At the same time, it raises the challenge of diversifying into higher-value-added exports to reduce dependency on primary goods. The trade performance comes as Uruguay pushes to advance talks on a potential Mercosur–China Free Trade Agreement, which could further cement bilateral ties and reshape the country’s role in the regional economy.
* Original text in Spanish. Translated by Large Language Model (LLM) technology.
Main Source:
La balanza comercial con China es positiva tras el aumento de las exportaciones del 3,4% interanual – Ámbito
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