UK government support
UK Export Finance (UKEF) has a £3 to £4 billion export credit facility to help UK businesses export to Paraguay. If you are a UK exporter looking for financial support to bring your products or services to Paraguay, this is a good opportunity.
Top five UK goods exported to Paraguay , in the four quarters to the end of Q4 2024
| Goods | Value (£ million ) |
|---|---|
| Cars | |
| Specialised machinery (capital) | |
| Medicinal & pharmaceutical products | |
| Plastics in non-primary forms | |
| Miscellaneous electrical goods (capital) |
Source:
ONS Trade in goods: country-by-commodity exports
Last updated: February 2025
Download the latest trade and investment factsheet for Paraguay.
Paraguay: at a glance
Economic growth
0.2%
Actual figure (IMF, 2022)
The UK is 4.3% (IMF, 2022, actual figure)
GDP per capita
$5,628
Actual figure (IMF, 2022)
The UK is $45,730 (IMF, 2022, projected figure)
Currency
Paraguayan guarani
Business language
Spanish
You may need a translator
Time zone
GMT -4
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Opportunities for exporters
There are opportunities for UK companies across a broad range of industries. Our trade advisers in Paraguay have identified opportunities for UK businesses in the following sectors:
Check for trade barriers
Trade barriers, such as tariffs or taxes, can raise costs, cause delays, or even stop you from exporting. Check for any issues that may impact your business when exporting.
Check duties and customs
Find information on how to export goods from the UK. View the duties, rules, restrictions, and the documents you need for your products.
Doing business in Paraguay
Preparing to export
Taxation
Paraguay has a Value Added Tax (VAT) rate of 10%. VAT credit refund schemes and exemptions are also available.
Import duties
Import duties in Paraguay range from 0% to 38% depending on the tariff level applied. Most products imported from the UK fall into the 10% tax category. We advise you to contact a customs clearance agency to assist you with the process.
Regulations
To act as an importer your company, as a first step, must be registered to the Paraguayan Customs Authority. Paraguayan customs work alongside government agencies that control the entry of merchandise into the country, according to the category. These institutions regulate permits, authorisation and certifications for imports.
For more information regarding importation and exportation regulations, as well as customs codes and tariffs, please refer to the Paraguayan Customs Authority website.
Trade barriers
Check for any reported barriers to trading with Paraguay.
Report any trade barriers that are affecting your business so we can help fix them.
Operating in Paraguay
Intellectual property
Intellectual property (IP) rights are territorial and rights granted in the UK do not provide protection elsewhere. You should consider getting IP protection abroad if you want to trade overseas or sell to overseas customers via the internet.
The Intellectual Property Office provides practical information to help you protect, manage and enforce your IP abroad. Further support for British businesses can be found through a network of IP attachés, based in key UK export markets.
Challenges
Corruption, bribery and bureaucracy in public entities are among the challenges when doing business in Paraguay. For more information on how the Paraguayan government can protect you from this, please refer to the Anti-Corruption Secretariat website.
Next steps
Get ready to do business abroad
Step-by-step lessons to accelerate your exporting ability.
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Find the answers to your exporting questions
Get instant help from our online services and how-to articles or contact our Export Support Service to access our wider network of support.
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