by FlagPictures.org

Uruguay bought US$12.95 billion worth of imported products from suppliers located around the world in 2025.

That dollar amount results from a 25.5% increase from $10.3 billion 5 years earlier in 2021.

Year over year, the value of Uruguay’s imported products rose by 3.4% compared to $12.5 billion starting from 2024.

The top 5 most valuable products imported into Uruguay during 2025 were crude oil, cars, trucks, automobile parts or accessories then processed petroleum oils. Added together, that subgroup of major Uruguayan imports generated approaching one-quarter (21.9%) of the Latin American nation’s overall import purchases.

Based on the average exchange rate for 2025 on a Purchasing Power Parity basis, the Uruguayan peso dropped by -6.1% against the US dollar since 2021 but appreciated by 2.3% from 2024 to 2025. Uruguay’s weaker local currency compared to 2021 makes Uruguayan imports paid for in its weaker local currency since 2021 relatively more expensive for Uruguayan buyers.

The latest available country-specific data shows that 81.6% of products imported into Uruguay was sold by exporters in: mainland China (23.1% of the Uruguayan total), Brazil (21.3%), Argentina (12.7%), United States of America (8.8%), Nigeria (3.1%), Germany (2.7%), Italy (2%), Spain (1.9%), Mexico (1.6%), France (1.51%), India (1.48%) and Paraguay (1.3%).

From a continental perspective, approaching four-fifths (37.7%) of Uruguay’s total imports by value in 2025 was purchased from fellow Latin American countries excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean.

Trade partners located in Asia supplied 32.5% of import buys by Uruguayan importers. Another 14.7% worth of goods originated from sellers in Europe and 10.8% from those in North America.

Smaller percentages came from exporters in Africa (4.2%) and Oceania (0.2%) mostly New Zealand and Australia.

Given Uruguay’s population of 3.51 million people, its total US$12.95 billion in 2025 imports translates to roughly $3,675 in yearly product demand from every person in the South American nation. That dollar metric exceeds the average $3,575 per person one year earlier during 2024.

Domestically, Uruguay’s inflation rate for consumer products averaged 5.525% for 2025 up from 4.85% in the prior year.

Uruguay’s top 10 imports accounted for 63.7% of the overall value of its product purchases from other countries.

The fastest-growing imports into Uruguay as measured by spending were fertilizers (up 34% from 2024), meat (up 28.4%), machinery including computers (up 9.7%) then pharmaceuticals (up 9.5%).

Declines among the listed top product groups belong to imported mineral fuels including oil (down -13.1% from 2024), plastics both as materials and including items made from plastic (down -7.6%) then electrical machinery and equipment (down -1.9%).

Please note that the results listed above are at the 2-digit Harmonized Tariff System code level. Information presented under the sections below is at the more granular 4-digit level.

Among these import subcategories, Uruguayan purchases of automobile bodies (up 37%), trailers (up 28.6%) then motorcycles (up 22.34%) grew at the fastest pace from 2024 to 2025.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported road vehicles including non-motorized products among Uruguayan businesses and consumers.

Among these import subcategories, Uruguayan purchases of electrical energy (up 5,234%), asphalt or petroleum bitumen mixes (up 38.2%) then peat (up 26.6%) grew at the fastest pace from 2024 to 2025.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of mineral fuels-related imports among Uruguayan businesses and consumers.

Among these import subcategories, Uruguayan purchases of machine tools including machines for nailing, stapling, glueing or assembling (up 268.7%), air conditioners (up 15.6%) then centrifuges, filters and purifiers (up 9.2%) grew at the fastest pace from 2024 to 2025.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of machinery-related imports (including computers) among Uruguayan businesses and consumers.

Among these import subcategories, Uruguayan purchases of electrical or optical circuit boards and panels (up 45.1%), electric motors or generators (up 41%) then television receivers, monitors and projectors (up 15.4%) grew at the fastest pace from 2024 to 2025.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of electronics-related imports among Uruguayan businesses and consumers.
 

See also Uruguay’s Top 10 Exports, Uruguay’s Top Trading Partners, Brazil’s Top 25 Trading Partners, Argentina’s Top Trading Partners and Mexico’s Top Trading Partners

Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook: Country Profiles. Accessed on October 23, 2026

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on October 23, 2026

Wikipedia, Uruguay. Accessed on October 23, 2026