AGP Executive Report

Paraguay Trade & Agribusiness: Paraguay reported a US$746M trade surplus in H1 2026, with exports up 23.6%, while the soybean seed sector is sounding alarms over limited access to new certified technology and low certified seed use (about one-third of the market). Poultry Exports: Paraguay’s chicken meat is set to enter new markets soon, with shipments referenced in recent trade updates. Urban Tech & Infrastructure: Asunción will host “Smart City Paraguay 2026” on Aug. 24-25, aiming to turn urban ideas into projects amid municipal election priorities. Agri-Food Market Access: Villa María Exporta (Sept. 9-11) will bring importers from four continents to meet local food suppliers, pushing SMEs toward new export destinations. Energy & Industry Finance: Itaipú’s first half of 2026 results highlight US$239M for Paraguay plus clean power delivery. Global Context for Industry: Canada is pushing to conclude a Mercosur free-trade deal before end-2026, while US tariff threats are raising competitiveness concerns for regional manufacturers.

Smart City Paraguay 2026: Asunción will host the second Smart City Paraguay summit and expo on Aug. 24-25, aiming to turn urban ideas into real projects ahead of municipal elections, with organizers positioning it as a national meeting point for engineers, public managers and technicians. Paraguay Trade Watch: Paraguay logged a US$746.6M trade surplus in H1 2026, with exports up 23.6% to US$10.16B, outpacing import growth and strengthening foreign-currency reserves. Agribusiness & Seeds: APROSEMP warns Paraguay’s soybean sector is under pressure as access to newly approved soybean technology is still limited, while certified seed use remains low and unauthorized sales circulate. Energy & Industry Finance: Itaipú’s first half of 2026 generated US$239M for Paraguay, tied to clean power deliveries. Poultry Exports: Paraguay is moving to expand chicken meat exports, with shipments reported heading to new markets soon. Urban Tech & Digital Economy: A Blockchain Summit 2026 is set to position Paraguay as a digital economy hub, aligning with the country’s broader push for tech-led growth.

Trade & Industry: Paraguay posted a US$746.6M trade surplus in H1 2026, with exports hitting US$10.16B (+23.6%), led by registered exports (64.5% of total) and strong growth in domestic production. Agri-Tech: Paraguay’s IPTA unveiled new cassava, sweet potato, tomato and pepper varieties, aiming to boost yields and support both food security and industrial demand through public-private collaboration. Seeds & Soybeans: APROSEMP warned that limited access to new approved soybean technology and low certified seed use are pressuring Paraguay’s seed industry, as material is circulating outside formal channels. Livestock Exports: Paraguay completed its first pork shipment to the Philippines (UPISA; 27,002 kg), with SENACSA sanitary certification and plans for one container per month as ties deepen. Regional Trade Cooperation: Paraguay joined the FIT Partnership ministerial meeting in Auckland, signaling continued push to improve cross-border trade rules and reduce barriers for exporters.

World Cup Finale: Spain beat France 2-0 in the semifinal and now face Argentina in Sunday’s final at MetLife Stadium, with England set for the third-place match vs France in Miami—another reminder of how fast Paraguay’s own World Cup run is being discussed globally. Paraguay Agriculture & Food Tech: Paraguay’s IPTA unveiled new cassava, sweet potato, tomato and pepper varieties aimed at boosting production and supporting smallholder family farms through public-private rollout. Pork Exports to Asia: Paraguay completed its first-ever pork shipment to the Philippines (UPISA; SENACSA-certified), targeting one container per month as demand grows. Trade & Air Connectivity: Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Paraguay signed an MOU to progressively liberalize South American air transport, with seventh-freedom rights updates taking effect immediately for some routes. Energy & Climate Pressure: FIFA’s hottest World Cup is reigniting debate on heat safety and climate impacts, with calls to rethink kickoff times and protections. Digital Economy: Paraguay is also in the spotlight via regional investment-trade cooperation talks that include Paraguay.

Agri-Tech & Food Security: Paraguay’s IPTA unveiled new cassava, sweet potato, tomato, and pepper varieties at the Choré Research Center, aiming to boost production and industrial use while accelerating public-private delivery to smallholder farms. Livestock Exports: Paraguay completed its first-ever pork shipment to the Philippines—27,002 kg of baby back ribs—under SENACSA sanitary certification, with plans for about one container per month as ties deepen. Poultry Trade: Taiwan is set to receive the first container of chicken meat imported from Paraguay soon, following years of negotiations and a market opening announced by President William Lai. Digital Economy & Identity: Paraguay is highlighted in regional momentum around cross-border digital ID and a broader push toward digital economy infrastructure, including a major identity-industry push for remote onboarding security. Energy & Climate: Paraguay’s cassava push lands alongside global signals on solar growth, while El Niño risk is flagged as a potential threat to perishable exports. Trade & Connectivity: A South American air liberalization step includes Paraguay in a memorandum framework aimed at reducing barriers and expanding future operating rights.

Expo Paraguay 2026: The 43rd International Trade Fair and 80th National Livestock Exhibition opened in Asunción (July 11–26) under “What moves the country,” bringing together producers, industry, services, tech and public institutions to drive deals and investment. Poultry Exports: Taiwan expects the first shipment of chicken meat imported from Paraguay to reach consumers soon after Paraguay’s President Santiago Peña sealed the initial container (about 150 tonnes), expanding agricultural trade beyond existing beef offal and pork demand. Regional Aviation Liberalization: Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Paraguay signed an air transport liberalization MOU in Asunción (July 14) to reduce regulatory barriers and roadmap future market openings; Brazil also updated bilateral deals to incorporate seventh-freedom traffic rights. Agri-Industry Watch: Aguia Resources says Pampafos sales have surpassed $2.3m within six weeks of commissioning its Brazil plant, with first commercial deliveries to a major soybean producer in Rio Grande do Sul—an indicator for regional fertilizer supply chains. Digital Economy: Paraguay is positioning for a digital-economy push as a Blockchain Summit 2026 aims to spotlight the country’s tech and identity infrastructure ambitions.

Agri-Trade: Taiwan expects the first shipment of Paraguayan chicken meat to hit consumers soon after President Santiago Peña sealed the initial container for export, expanding poultry access alongside Paraguay’s existing beef and pork sales. Industry & Innovation: Expo Paraguay 2026 opened in Asunción (July 11–26), positioning the fair as a hub for agriculture, livestock, industry, commerce, and technology with national and international exhibitors. Digital Governance: Mercosur advanced a cross-border digital ID agreement signed in Asunción, aiming to give legal force to electronic IDs across member states once national legislatures ratify. Poultry Exports: A separate update confirms the first batch of 150 metric tons of Paraguayan poultry meat was sealed and shipped to Taiwan, marking a milestone in the Paraguay–Taiwan trade push. Energy & Transport Fuels: India’s E20 rollout is framed as part of a wider global shift toward higher ethanol blends, with Paraguay already adopting E30 and other countries moving to higher targets. Agri-Tech: Brazil’s biologicals boom remains a focus for major suppliers and start-ups, with industry players highlighting field-trial scale and growing resistance as key market realities. Finance/Infrastructure (Digital): HIVE Digital Technologies closed a $184.66M private offering of 0% exchangeable senior notes due 2031, signaling continued institutional backing for AI compute infrastructure.

Expo Paraguay 2026: The 43rd International Trade Fair and 80th National Livestock Exhibition opened in Asunción (July 11–26) under “What moves the country,” bringing together producers, industry, commerce, tech and public institutions to push investment and innovation. Agri-exports: Taiwan expects its first shipment of chicken meat imported from Paraguay to enter the domestic market soon after Paraguay’s President Santiago Peña sealed the first container—another step in expanding poultry trade. Cooperatives & sustainability: Nueva Vizcaya Governor Jose Gambito honored top cooperatives at the Governor’s Sustainability Awards, spotlighting resilience amid rising fuel, electricity and operating costs. Digital integration: Mercosur advanced cross-border digital ID recognition, signed in Asunción, giving Paraguay, Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay mutual legal weight for electronic IDs to speed services and procedures across borders. Blockchain push: Paraguay is gearing up for the Paraguay Blockchain Summit 2026 (Aug 7) at the Universidad Autónoma de Asunción, aiming to position the country as a digital economy hub with 2,000+ attendees. Energy & industry finance: Paraguay’s Itaipú reported US$239m for clean power in the first half of 2026, reinforcing the country’s industrial energy base.

Mercosur Digital ID: Paraguay helped drive a landmark Mercosur agreement signed in Asunción that gives cross-border digital IDs legal force across Paraguay, Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay—aiming to let citizens and businesses complete procedures and access services without paper documents. Blockchain & Digital Economy: Paraguay is gearing up for the Paraguay Blockchain Summit 2026 (Aug. 7, Asunción), backed as a National Interest event, targeting 2,000+ attendees to accelerate fintech and digital ecosystem growth. Energy & Infrastructure: Itaipú Binacional is financing Paraguay’s first Paediatric Nephro-urology Centre at Niños de Acosta Ñu General Paediatric Hospital in San Lorenzo, with construction in the reinforced concrete phase and progress estimated at 25–30%. Agri & Trade Risk: A “super” El Niño is raising alarms for Latin America’s perishable exports, with early damage reported in Peru’s asparagus and Colombia’s avocado supply and quality. UK Trade Pressure on Mercosur: Britain’s environment ministry is reportedly holding up Mercosur trade talks over fears it could undercut local farmers, echoing EU farmer concerns. World Cup, but with Paraguay links: FIFA’s 2030 plan includes centenary matches in Paraguay, yet reporting flags delays on Paraguay’s proposed World Cup stadium site.

Paraguay Health Infrastructure: Itaipú Binacional says it transferred about US$239M to Paraguay’s state in the first half of 2026, including royalties and energy cession payments—money that supports public services and energy investments. Child Healthcare Buildout: Itaipú is also backing Paraguay’s first Paediatric Nephro-urology Centre at Niños de Acosta Ñu General Paediatric Hospital in San Lorenzo, with a ₲19,500M (about US$3.2M) project led by TECO S.R.L., currently in reinforced concrete works at roughly 25–30% progress. Motorsport Milestone: Paraguayan driver Miguel García became the first Paraguayan to reach a GT3 podium at Germany’s Nürburgring, marking a major step for local motorsport on the international stage. World Cup Industry Angle: FIFA President Gianni Infantino signaled FIFA will formally evaluate expanding the 2030 World Cup to 64 teams, with centenary matches planned in Paraguay, alongside Uruguay and Argentina.

Paraguay’s Health & Infrastructure: Itaipú Binacional says it transferred about US$239M to Paraguay’s state in the first half of 2026, including royalties and energy-cession payments that help fund public services and power-sector investment. Public Health Project: Itaipú is also backing Paraguay’s first Paediatric Nephro-urology Centre at Niños de Acosta Ñu General Paediatric Hospital in San Lorenzo, with ₲19,500M (about US$3.2M) and work already in the reinforced concrete phase. Cybersecurity: Paraguay and the US detected China-linked cyber threats that infiltrated state systems, following a joint review focused on strengthening digital infrastructure and resilience. Energy & Industry Context: The same Itaipú cashflow underlines how hydroelectric revenues keep Paraguay’s industrial and service delivery moving. Sports With Local Reach: Paraguay’s World Cup run remains a talking point after its penalty win over Germany, reinforcing how national teams can spotlight Paraguay on a global stage.

Energy & Public Finance: Itaipú Binacional transferred US$239M to Paraguay’s state in the first half of 2026, including US$131M in royalties—money that feeds the national budget and ANDE payments. Cybersecurity: The U.S. and Paraguay detected China-linked cyberattacks after a joint review of Paraguay’s state networks, underscoring ongoing pressure on public digital infrastructure. Industry & Manufacturing: Brazilian firms are increasingly eyeing Paraguay’s maquila model and tax/tariff advantages, with companies like Wyda Group and Fadel already operating and more exploring new plants. Agribusiness & Food Systems: Latin American organizations are pushing back against gene editing in agriculture and seed control, warning it could commodify life and weaken community rights. Climate Risk for Supply Chains: Analysts warn a “super” El Niño could drive a global food price shock lasting into 2028, adding strain to already tight supply chains. Sports-Linked Business: Paraguay’s presence in the World Cup continues to ripple into services and logistics, while extreme heat is prompting calls for stronger FIFA protections.

Itaipú Cashflow for Paraguay: Itaipú Binacional transferred US$239M to the Paraguayan state in the first half of 2026, including US$131M in royalties, reinforcing public finances and energy-sector payments. Cybersecurity Cooperation: The U.S. and Paraguay detected China-linked cyberattacks that infiltrated Paraguay’s state networks, following a joint review to strengthen digital defenses. Motorsport Breakthrough: Paraguayan driver Miguel García became the first Paraguayan to reach a GT3 podium at Germany’s Nürburgring, marking a major step for local talent abroad. Energy & Fuel Policy Watch: India’s nationwide rollout of E20 as standard petrol highlights the wider shift toward ethanol-blended fuels—relevant for Paraguay’s biofuel and transport discussions. Local Industry Signals: Brazilian manufacturers are increasingly studying Paraguay’s maquila-style incentives and lower labor costs to expand production, from packaging to electronics and food-industry machinery. Sports Heat & Safety: Extreme heat in World Cup venues is driving calls for stronger cooling and match-delay protocols, with Philadelphia’s France–Paraguay game cited as a stress test for fan and player safety. World Football Leadership: Germany is moving toward Jurgen Klopp as national coach after his talks with the DFB, following the team’s penalty exit to Paraguay.

Itaipú Revenue Boost: Itaipú Binacional transferred US$239M to Paraguay’s state in the first half of 2026, with US$131M in royalties and US$66M in energy cession compensation—key cash for the national budget and energy infrastructure. Cybersecurity Alert: The U.S. and Paraguay confirmed China-linked cyberattacks infiltrated Paraguay’s state networks, after a joint review focused on strengthening public digital resilience. Manufacturing & Investment Pull: Brazilian manufacturers are increasingly eyeing Paraguay’s maquila regime, citing lower labor costs and tax advantages as Brazil’s own tax incentives phase down. Energy & Fuel Policy: Paraguay is among countries already using E20 or higher ethanol blends, as the global shift toward ethanol-mixed petrol accelerates. Agribusiness Signal: Spain’s Murcia region forecasts a 3.3% larger 2026 stone fruit crop (peaches, nectarines, paraguayos), with exports up strongly in 2025—good news for regional supply chains. Sports Infrastructure: Olimpia unveiled plans for a 46,000-seat Asunción stadium (US$80M), targeting completion in late 2029.

Paraguay Football & Infrastructure: Olimpia unveiled plans for a new 46,000-seat Asunción stadium, aiming to be ready in late 2029 and potentially hosting a 2030 World Cup opener—an $80M project with early foundation work starting this month. Trade & Logistics: Paraguay’s neighbors are pushing major waterway efficiency—Argentina’s Paraná-Paraguay Waterway concession contract is backed by key trade and port groups, signaling a new phase for investments and lower agro-export logistics costs. Energy & Fuel Policy: Ethanol blending is spreading across the region; Paraguay is already among countries using E20+ blends, as global fuel markets shift toward renewable content. FDI Watch: Global investment sentiment is wobbling—FDI net inflows in the Philippines fell to a near 10-year low in April—an external reminder for Paraguay to keep investment conditions stable. Food Culture: Mbejú, Paraguay’s cassava flatbread, is highlighted as a centuries-old Guaraní tradition that’s now thriving in modern café and hotel menus. Digital & Public Services: Paraguay leads Mercosur on a cross-border digital ID agreement, pointing to faster, safer identity services for trade and mobility.

Paraguay Football & Industry Spotlight: Olimpia unveiled plans for a new 46,000-seat Asunción stadium, targeting completion in late 2029 and positioning Paraguay to host a 2030 World Cup match. Biofuels & Energy: A global look at fuel blending highlights that Paraguay already uses E20-or-higher ethanol blends, tying renewable fuel policy to energy security and farm-linked supply chains. Digital Infrastructure: HIVE Digital Technologies will acquire a 32 MW data center in Boden, Sweden, underscoring how energy-linked compute projects are becoming long-term local investments. Logistics & Trade: Support is building for the Paraná–Paraguay Waterway concession, seen as a competitiveness boost for agro-exports through lower transport costs and new infrastructure investment. Public Procurement Tech: Governments are moving from AI pilots toward practical use in procurement, focusing on better document data handling, automation, oversight, and market intelligence. Food Culture: Mbejú’s centuries-old cassava roots are getting fresh attention as Paraguay’s enduring comfort food tradition.