01.10.202619:27:14UTC+00Uruguay Trade Balance Swings to Deficit in August

Uruguay’s trade balance shifted to a deficit of $42.8 million in August 2026, compared with a surplus of $322.49 million in the same month a year earlier. Imports jumped 24.3% year-on-year to $1.06 billion, driven primarily by a 42.2% surge in intermediate goods, underpinned by a 558% spike in oil and distillate purchases. Consumer goods imports grew 17.1%, as imports of autos and other transport equipment climbed 47.2%. By contrast, imports of capital goods fell 11.3%. On the export side, total overseas sales declined 13.4% to $1.02 billion, as exports of primary goods plunged 37.3%, with agriculture and livestock products dropping 40.6%. Offsetting this weakness to some extent, manufacturing exports edged up 1.6%, while exports of utilities expanded 56.6%.