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Uruguay's export requests for goods, including operations from free trade zones, reached USD 1,219 million in July 2026, according to the latest Monthly Foreign Trade Report prepared by Uruguay XXI's Competitive Intelligence department. The result was 4% higher than in the same month of 2025 and was sustained by the increased dynamism of beef, cellulose, and dairy products, despite a drop in soybeans.
With this performance, external sales accumulated USD 7,819 million between January and July, 2% above the same period of the previous year.
Beef was the main exported product in July, with sales of USD 280 million, 25% more than a year ago, accounting for 23% of the total. The volume placed grew by 8% and reached 34,256 tons. The increase in value above quantities occurred in a context of favorable international prices for the product during 2026.
China continued to be the main market for Uruguayan beef, with purchases of USD 87 million and a growth of 17%, followed by the United States, with USD 77 million and a 33% increase. The European Union received USD 47 million, 1% less year-on-year, while Israel doubled its purchases to USD 25 million.
Cellulose ranked second, with USD 143 million and a 12% increase. The composition of its destinations changed, with the European Union leading placements with USD 61 million and a 75% growth, while China bought USD 51 million, 27% less. South Korea reached USD 10 million and registered the largest relative increase of the month, at 313%.
Dairy products completed the top three with USD 95 million, 31% more than in July 2025. The sector exported to more than 55 destinations and found Brazil to be its main market, with sales of USD 31 million and a 50% expansion. Beverage concentrates also grew, reaching USD 86 million and rising 18%.
The main negative impact came from soybeans. Its exports decreased by 57%, to USD 86 million, after having reached USD 199 million in July of the previous year. The reduction was strongly associated with China, where placements of the product fell by 68%. Outside the top five categories, sales of live cattle, wood, and meat by-products increased, while those of rice and vehicles decreased.
Europe and the United States expanded their purchases
China remained the main destination for Uruguayan exports, with USD 235 million and a 19% share, although sales to that market decreased by 35%. The growth of beef did not compensate for the lower placements of soybeans and cellulose, products that, along with meat, concentrated 83% of shipments to the Asian country.
Brazil ranked second with USD 190 million, 13% more than a year ago. Vehicles led placements, and the market's advance was accompanied by increased sales of dairy products, plastics, and beverage concentrates.
The European Union was the destination with the highest growth among the top three. Exports soared 42% and reached USD 174 million. The basket included more than 40 products and was led by cellulose, followed by beef, rice, wood, and soybeans.
The United States, in fourth place, bought USD 134 million, 33% more, driven mainly by beef and by advances in citrus and wood. Turkey completed the top five markets with USD 64 million and a 60% expansion, largely explained by sales of live cattle.
