PARAGUAY · FOREIGN INVESTMENT, ECONOMY
Key Facts
- The country Paraguay, a landlocked South American farm and energy exporter between Brazil and Argentina.
- What happened The central bank said on 30 October 2026 that net foreign investment in 2025 was a record US$1.15 billion.
- The US angle US investors hold US$1.26 billion in Paraguay, the third-largest national total after Brazil and the Netherlands.
- The stock All foreign direct investment held in Paraguay reached US$14.77 billion, about 30% of its economy.
- Power Index Paraguay ranks 10th of 14 in The Rio Times Latin America Power Index, with 36.0 points (October 2026 edition).
Paraguay foreign investment reached a record US$1.15 billion in 2025, according to the central bank’s annual report released on Friday 30 October 2026. The money comes from companies and investors that buy, expand or reinvest in businesses inside the country.
The United States is the third-largest holder of that capital, with US$1.26 billion, behind Brazil and the Netherlands. For US readers, the report shows who is putting money into a South American partner of the United States.
What the Central Bank Reported
Paraguay foreign investment started with gross inflows that totaled US$4.59 billion in 2025, up about 31% from a year earlier. Money flowing out, such as loans to related companies abroad and profit transfers, came to US$3.44 billion, up about 44%.
The difference is the net flow of US$1.15 billion, which the bank calls the highest in its series. It is about 3% above the revised 2024 figure of US$1.12 billion, and the average for 2023 to 2025 is US$1.05 billion a year.
Most of the 2025 total came from companies raising capital, which added US$1.25 billion, up 91%. Reinvested profits fell to US$262 million from US$438 million in 2024.
Where Paraguay Foreign Investment Comes From
The stock of foreign direct investment, meaning everything accumulated over the years, stood at US$14.77 billion at the end of 2025. That is up 32% from US$11.16 billion in 2024 and equal to about 30% of Paraguay’s GDP.
In Paraguay foreign investment is led by Brazil, the largest investor with US$2.19 billion, about 15% of the total. The Netherlands follows with US$1.31 billion, and the United States is third with US$1.26 billion, or about 9%.
Uruguay holds US$1.22 billion, the Cayman Islands US$913 million and the British Virgin Islands US$871 million. The bank counts 72 investor countries in 2025, up from 42 in 2008.
Which Sectors Gained and Lost
Communications drew the most new money in 2025, with a net US$232 million, followed by financial services with US$167 million and agriculture with US$130 million. Transport added US$128 million, oil processing US$119 million and forestry US$111 million.
Commerce recorded a net outflow, as did leather and footwear and milling and bakery. Across all sectors, loans between related companies were a net outflow of US$359 million.
Commerce is still the biggest sector by accumulated stock, at US$2.61 billion or 18%, followed by financial services at US$2.19 billion. Communications holds US$1.36 billion and agriculture US$1.08 billion.
Why the Record Comes With a Footnote
The bank widened its company directory from 1,492 to 2,004 firms, adding 512, and recalculated its whole series back to 2008. As a result the 2024 flow was lifted from the US$931 million published a year earlier to US$1.12 billion.
That means the new record is measured against a revised and wider base, so older and newer years are not a like-for-like comparison. The 2025 gain over 2024 is a modest 3%.
What It Means for You
For US investors and companies, the report confirms that Paraguay foreign investment is rising, with US holdings of US$1.26 billion already ranking third. It does not show whether the US money is growing, because the bank gives no US flow for 2025.
For background, read our guides to how Paraguay works and its economy and key players. Our report on the central bank’s rate decision, our page on Asunción and our profile of President Santiago Peña complete the picture.
What Is Not Known
The report does not say how much Paraguay foreign investment from US companies arrived in 2025 alone, or which US firms are involved. The sources reviewed give no breakdown of the other investor countries.
The report covers 2025 only and gives no outlook for 2026. Readers should treat the 2025 numbers as the bank’s latest estimate.
More: Paraguay news in English, every day from The Rio Times.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did Paraguay foreign investment reach in 2025?
Net foreign direct investment was US$1.15 billion, according to the central bank’s report of 30 October 2026. Gross inflows were US$4.59 billion and outflows US$3.44 billion.
Where does the investment come from?
Brazil leads with US$2.19 billion of accumulated holdings, followed by the Netherlands with US$1.31 billion and the United States with US$1.26 billion. The bank counts 72 investor countries.
Is the 2025 figure really a record?
Paraguay foreign investment is the highest in the central bank’s series, but the bank revised earlier years upward after adding 512 companies to its directory. The 2025 gain over 2024 is about 3%.
What is Paraguay’s stock of foreign investment?
It reached US$14.77 billion at the end of 2025, up 32% from US$11.16 billion in 2024. That equals about 30% of GDP.
Sources: Central Bank of Paraguay (BCP), Foreign Direct Investment report 2025, 30 October 2026; Central Bank of Paraguay (BCP), Foreign Direct Investment 2024 report (earlier series), 23 October 2025.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief