Fuente: https://www.ambito.com/uruguay/las-exportaciones-las-zonas-francas-fueron-el-132-del-record-del-2022-n5627532
Sales abroad from the Free Zones totaled US$ 1,766 million, 2% more than in 2021.
2022 closed as a record year in exports of Uruguay, with a total of 13,356 million dollars, but one piece of information is even more relevant for the future of the country's foreign trade: the exports of the Free Zones They totaled 1,766 million dollars, which represents an increase of 2% in terms of their participation compared to the previous year.
That the Free Zones are a great bet not only of the government led by the president Luis Lacalle Pou, but from the entire country, there is no doubt. But each time it proves to be a successful move for the Uruguayan economy, as demonstrated by the Uruguay XXI Annual Foreign Trade Report.
In a complex international context due to the global economic contraction that is being observed, supported by the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic and the war between Ukraine Y Russia, Uruguayan exports of goods managed to reach a historical maximum, and Sales abroad from the Free Zones accounted for 13.2%.
Likewise, exports in these tax-free spaces – which the government promotes as the main points of attraction for foreign companies and investments – grew by 2% compared to 2021.
Uruguay's record exports
Without considering sales from the Free Zones - where, for example, pulp mills operate, as well as many foreign technology companies - the country accumulated 11.59 billion dollars in exports during 2022, which implies a 18% increase in relation to the total exported during 2021.
The main products exported during the year were beef —despite the decline in the meat sector in recent months—; wood, soybeans, milk powder and rice; in addition to electrical energy that continues to show new highs year after year. In this framework, agriculture was the sector that contributed the most to export growth last year.
Export destinations
During 2022, China It remained the main importing country of Uruguay, with more than 2,750 million dollars, 24% of the total exported.
Brazil Y Argentina They occupied second and third place, with sales of 1,873 million and more than 1,000 million dollars placed, respectively. Inside the Mercosur, Paraguay It was the next most important destination, with exports of 144 million dollars. Together, the block represented 30% of total exports.
However, if one considers the European Union As a block, it displaced Brazil as Uruguay's second buyer, with sales that represented $1.95 billion, 22% more than in 2021. Of the total, 51% of these exports belonged to pulp, which grew by 19%; Another product in which an increase was verified was beef with 18% and wood with 8%, with Portugal as the port of entry to Europe.
