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Although it only has 406 thousand square kilometers of territory and nearly 7.5 million inhabitants, Paraguay has become a country with growing export activity in the last decade.
Currently, its merchandise export levels exceed other South American countries with a larger population and territory. Its Gross Domestic Product in 2023 reached 43,389 million dollars and had a growth of 3.9%.
To a large extent, the key to the country’s success has been the application of coherent and disciplined policies to take care of its traditional markets in the long term, added more recently to the search for new alliances in emerging markets worldwide.
This can be seen in the fact that in 2023 the country received investments and exchanged products with 45 countries around the world and the number of entrepreneurs who report having achieved successful exports from Paraguay is growing every day.
Steps to achieve a successful export in Paraguay
As with any business or investment project, before exporting from Paraguay, the first thing is to document yourself on the legal requirements that you must meet in order to move your merchandise to any place in the world.
This includes cargo mobilization permits, regulations on the handling of dangerous goods or those that require special environmental and storage conditions, and everything related to purchase documentation, customs payment, and transportation freight.
According to current legislation, there are documents that you must have on hand before starting an export project in Paraguay.
The first thing is to be registered in the Registry of Exporters of Paraguay and have key documents on hand such as the statutes of your commercial company and data of the company partners, authorization according to the sector to export, RUC, municipal business license and proof of no tax debt.
This registration and the delivery of the corresponding requirements can be done through the National Customs Directorate in Asunción or at the Single Export Window (VUE).
You must also keep in mind that depending on the sector or type of merchandise to be exported, you must process authorizations or documentation in different ministries or public bodies, such as the case of the Ministries of Health, or Agriculture and Livestock for products of plant and animal origin or medicines.
If it is an industrial product, you must complete the export authorization process from Paraguay with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.
Study the market you want to export to from Paraguay
The first step to becoming a successful exporter from Paraguay is to develop your strategic export plan, defining which market you are interested in reaching and what level of demand your products would have there.
Secondly, you must identify the tariff heading of your product, also called tariff code or tariff fraction.
This heading details the coding of a product according to what is dictated by the Harmonized System of the World Customs Organization. Each product that is marketed worldwide has a particular tariff code.
Knowing this code will help you prepare in advance regarding the requirements and procedures that you must complete in each market when exporting from Paraguay.
Study the export records of your type of merchandise. To achieve a successful export from Paraguay, it is advisable to know the history and background left by other companies that have exported similar goods in previous years and currently.
This includes studying prices, distribution methods used and particularities of the markets where they had more or less success. Much of this information and other statistical data are available on the website of the National Customs Directorate and the Central Bank of Paraguay.
It is also important to find out which markets demand the type of product you intend to export. A very useful tool for this is the website of the International Trader Center (www.trademap.org).
Don’t forget to process your export clearance certificate
Another step to achieve a successful export from Paraguay is to have the export clearance certificate, which consists of several documents issued by customs agents.
You can obtain this certificate through the General Directorate of Customs, where you must declare all the products you wish to export.
Likewise, the laws of the Paraguay requires the management of customs brokers, who will ensure the safety and technical adequacy of export operations.
This customs agent or broker has complete knowledge of import and export work and all the procedures involved.
Identify tariffs to successfully export from Paraguay
Finally, it is important that you study in advance what tariffs your merchandise will have to pay in export markets.
In many cases there are exemptions or reductions in rates thanks to trade agreements signed between Paraguay and other countries, while in other cases it may be the opposite and you may find special surcharges due to the type of merchandise.
Tools such as Macmap will allow you to access information on tariffs in force throughout the world, while the Foreign Trade Information System will give you information on trade agreements in force between Paraguay and other nations.
All this information is vital for you to become a successful exporter from Paraguay.
Trust Alfa Trading and ensure the success of your export from Paraguay
Considering the high competition that exists today in export markets, the best thing you can do to guarantee the success of your project is to have the advice of one of the best international logistics companies in Paraguay, Alfa Trading. S.A.
We are a company with three decades of experience in the area of international logistics and we have a team of men and women with great knowledge of the export processes from Paraguay.
In addition, we have freight agents in the main ports of the world, ready to support you in all the procedures and paperwork that your business requires.
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