Uruguay reports $13.8 million in exports under EU-Mercosur deal

Uruguayan companies have begun utilizing the EU-Mercosur trade agreement, with US$13.8 million in exports recorded during the first twelve weeks of its application between May 4 and July 26, 2026. These shipments totaled 6,413 tons, generating an estimated US$2.1 million in tariff savings.

The export basket is primarily agro-industrial, led by beef (41%), citrus (22%), honey (11%), and rice (10%). The Netherlands received half of the total value, while Spain has emerged as the second-largest European destination. The agreement has significantly reduced market protection for certain goods; for example, protection for beef dropped from 20.7% to 5.1%.

To support this trade flow, Uruguay XXI has launched a new digital portal. This tool centralizes technical information, including tariff schedules, preferential quotas, rules of origin, and EU regulatory requirements. The initiative aims to assist exporters, particularly micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), which currently account for 61% of Uruguayan companies exporting to the EU but only 3% of the total export value.