Paraguay registers an unprecedented year in attracting investments. According to the Central Bank of Paraguay (BCP), investment in Paraguay reached US$10.395 billion in 2024, “a consequence of the country’s sustained macroeconomic stability over the years” and its increasingly positive reputation among global investors, according to analyst William Franco.
“The strengthening of investment in Paraguay over the past three decades has consolidated our position as one of the most competitive destinations in South America” stated Acting Minister of Industry and Commerce, Lic. Arnaldo Samaniego.
The indicator that has shown the greatest growth has been the maquila industry, with historic data: from US$443 million in 2024, investments made under the maquila regime reached US$664 million as of August 2025, and the estimate for the year would reach US$900 million.
In addition to confirming Paraguay’s attraction of new foreign and national companies, this positive trend also shows the confidence of companies already installed in the country, many of which have decided to expand production lines, modernize and expand facilities, and reinforce productive capabilities.
Continuing on this investment cycle “reveals a structural change towards a more diversified and internationally integrated economy” for Paraguay, Franco stressed. This aligns with the sustained investment in Paraguay across several sectors.
The Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MIC) reported a total of US$931 million in net investment flows during 2024, which in 12 months is an increase of almost 15% compared to the previous year. In the long term, the contrast is even greater: if in the 1990s Paraguay received around US$100 million per year, today the average annual investment is around US$600 million. This significant leap in investment in Paraguay is associated with the country’s stable macroeconomic framework, low inflation, predictable tax system, investment-friendly regulations, and an overall business environment that encourages private capital to plan for the long term.
Another important trend in recent years has been the continuous increase in the reinvestment of profits in Paraguay, a clear signal of business confidence. Instead of repatriating capital to other countries, companies are betting on strengthening their presence in Paraguay, expanding production, and strengthening their supply chains. This behavior has a multiplier effect that strengthens the national economy, generating more jobs, facilitating technology transfer, and encouraging the development of longer-term projects.
Sectoral Highlights
The MIC, citing BCP data, underscored the productive sectors that concentrate the largest share of investment in Paraguay. The commerce sector represents around 19% of total investment, driven by its role in supplying the domestic market and by the growing presence of international companies that choose Paraguay as a regional distribution center.
The financial services sector, with about 16%, continues to solidify itself as one of the central pillars of national growth. The development of this sector is a reflection of the solidity of Paraguay’s banking system, its progressive integration with international financial circuits, and its capacity to support both national and foreign businesses in their growth plans.
Agribusiness, a historic engine of the country’s economy, continues to lead in investment attraction. The soybean value chain stands out in crushing activity, export of vegetable oil, and specialized logistics, supported by the availability of raw materials, competitiveness in production costs, and a strong export tradition. The meat sector, which includes bovine, pork, and poultry, also continues to attract capital thanks to greater insertion in new international markets and the respect for strict sanitary standards. Paraguay’s advances in livestock traceability, animal health, and processing infrastructure have reinforced its international competitiveness.
Investment in Paraguay in transportation and logistics, meanwhile, is also a sector with accelerated growth and diversification, boosted by new ports, storage centers, cold chain, and multipurpose terminals. In addition to improving the performance of Paraguay’s export routes, they also generate value to national production and cut operational clogs, a determining factor for a landlocked country that is strongly dependent on river and road corridors.
Distribution of Investments in Paraguay by Country
The profile of Paraguay’s investment inflows shows that capital mainly comes from strategic partner countries. Brazil appears as the first investor, with around 15%, followed by the United States and the Netherlands, both with about 10%. Uruguay and Spain complete the list, with shares between 6% and 7% each. These five countries together account for more than half of Paraguay’s accumulated capital, a clear reflection of strong ties with the country’s regional neighbors and traditional trade partners.
Territorial Destination
The distribution of investment in Paraguay also shows a spread in several regions. Alto Paraná continues to consolidate itself as one of the country’s most active industrial poles, with a solid ecosystem of maquila companies, electronics, auto parts, and logistics, strongly linked to Brazil. In Itapúa there is a combination of dynamic agribusiness and manufacturing poles, as well as infrastructure of relevance such as airport and port logistics.
Chaco, dynamized with advances in the Bioceanic Corridor, is being reactivated by livestock operations, agro-exports, and large logistics installations. Asunción and Central continue to be the centers of services, technology, and commerce. Concepción, meanwhile, experiences a renewed dynamism with the construction of large-scale projects such as the building of a new pulp mill that is expected to generate significant employment and multiplier effects in that northern region.
Investment Announcements in 2025
In 2025, the coming months are marked by a series of relevant investment announcements. A variety of economic missions are carried out from abroad under the coordination of the technical teams of the MIC, which are complemented by tours promoted by the Presidency of the Republic to present and reinforce the country’s image abroad. In August, REDIEX launches a 250-page guide for investments, in which Paraguay ranks first in the Economic Climate Indicator (163 points), ahead of Uruguay (127 points), and in which Paraguay presents one of the most competitive electricity rates in the region at US$0.04 per kWh. In addition, within the identified priority sectors, forestry stands out for export potential and its long-term sustainability vision.
Some of the most important announcements include:
US$300 million from Group C for pork production and processing.
US$135 million from JBS (Brazil) for expansion of operations, which consolidates Paraguay’s sanitary and logistical competitiveness.
More than US$40 million by Savilcon Group.
Record Performance in Law 60/90 and the Maquila Regime
After almost three decades, Paraguay put an end to updating both Law 60/90 and the Maquila Law, making them more competitive and in line with the challenges of today’s globalized world. The maquila regime maintains its 1% value-added tax on exports, with the additional advantage that it incorporates a refund of 0.5% VAT on services exports.
The updated Law 60/90 further increases incentives for projects that require greater intensity of machinery, technology, and higher levels of innovation. Paraguay approved, in 2025, the Law for the Assembly of High-Tech Goods, aimed at promoting and incentivizing investments in productive activities specializing in electronics, telecommunications, and smart devices, activities considered, so far, too specialized for Paraguay.
These reforms have not been in vain. Investment in Paraguay in the two regimes exceeded US$664 million as of August 2025, a record in absolute terms, when compared to the US$443 million received in 2024 and the US$353 million of 2023. Projections estimate that investment could reach US$900 million by the end of this year, and also add more than 4,420 new jobs to those that have already been generated in the last few years. As these new policies mature, they are expected to stimulate even greater investment in Paraguay in high-tech, export-oriented, and value-added sectors.