Market research

Pork market in Uruguay

Release date: Mar 27, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

Report language:

Report language:

Submission method: to your account

File format: docx, xlsx

Single Report

$500

Instant access to detailed data on one specific market
Ideal for one-off tasks: niche assessments, presentations, investment decisions
Available in Excel and Word in 15 minutes after purchase
Cheaper than subscription, but each market requires a separate purchase

Best if you know exactly what you need

Buy a single report

Platform Subscription

from$600

Complete and unlimited data access across products and regions
Includes continuous data updates during subscription period
Download reports instantly in Word, and Excel formats
More cost-effective for multiple markets or regular analysis

Ideal for regular data users

View pricing plans

Earlier Report Observations

The pork market in Uruguay experienced a contraction from 50 714 t in 2018 to 48 214 t in 2020. This decline was partly influenced by increased imports of beef, which reached $115.8 million in 2020, likely drawing some consumer demand away from pork.

From 2021, the market rebounded, growing to 61 408 t by 2023. This expansion coincided with record beef slaughter and exports driven by Chinese demand, as well as Minerva's acquisition of the modern beef processing plant BPU Meat in 2022 and 2023, which bolstered overall meat industry capacity.

The pork market's recovery was further supported by the opening of new export markets for Uruguayan beef, such as the authorization to ship beef to the Philippines in 2022, reflecting broader positive dynamics in the country's meat sector.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Uruguay
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Uruguay in kind, 2018-2023, t
  2. 5.1.2. Annual dynamics of production in Uruguay in value, 2018-2023, $ US
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, t
  2. 5.2.2. Dynamics of production structure by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023
  3. 5.2.3. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, t
  4. 5.2.4. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
  5. 5.2.5. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2023
6. Imports
1. 6.1. Imports (Direct Data)
  1. 6.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Uruguay in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Uruguay by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Uruguay in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Uruguay by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Uruguay, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Uruguay by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 6.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Uruguay in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Uruguay by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Uruguay in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Uruguay by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Uruguay, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Uruguay by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
7. Trade balance
1. 7.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 7.1.1. In kind, t
  2. 7.1.2. In value, M $ US
2. 7.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. In kind, t
  2. 7.2.2. In value, M $ US
8. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
1. 8.1. Direct Data
  1. 8.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 8.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 8.2. Mirror Data
  1. 8.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 8.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production pork in Uruguay

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of pork, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of pork, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Following two consecutive years of decline, Uruguay's pork production rebounded in 2020. The country produced 10 526 tonnes of pork that year, marking a 5.3% increase compared to 2019. However, looking at the broader period from 2017 to 2020, production actually fell by 26.2%, which translates to an average annual decline of 9.6%. The lowest production level was recorded in 2019 at 10 000 tonnes, with that year also seeing the steepest year-on-year drop of 24.1%.

Annual dynamics of production in Uruguay in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(7.7%)	(24.1%)	5.3%	(9.6%)

Source: SHEV.io

Exports pork from Uruguay

Exports in kind, t

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Uruguay in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	n/a	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, Uruguay's pork exports in physical terms were entirely concentrated in just two markets: Spain and Brazil. Spain accounted for 54.9% of total export volumes, while Brazil represented the remaining 45.1%. Together, these two destinations made up 100% of Uruguay's pork export flows during this period.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Uruguay in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Uruguay in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	n/a	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Uruguay's pork exports measured in value terms showed an identical pattern of market concentration. Spain and Brazil were the sole destinations, together accounting for 100% of the total export value during these years.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Uruguay in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports pork to Uruguay

Imports in kind, t

After two years of growth, Uruguay's pork imports declined in 2020. Import volumes reached 37 688 tonnes that year, representing a 5.1% decrease compared to 2019. Despite this recent drop, imports over the full 2017-2020 period actually increased by 11.9%, averaging 3.8% growth per year. The peak import volume was recorded in 2019 at 39 700 tonnes, with the strongest annual growth occurring in 2018 at 11.5%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Uruguay in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	11.5%	5.8%	(5.1%)	3.8%

Source: SHEV.io

During the 2017-2020 period, Brazil was overwhelmingly the main source of Uruguay's pork imports in physical terms, accounting for 94.4% of total import volumes. Other supplying countries played only a minor role in Uruguay's import structure.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Uruguay in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

Uruguay's pork imports measured in value terms grew for the second consecutive year in 2020, reaching 98 048 thousand US dollars—a 2.3% increase over 2019. Over the broader 2017-2020 period, import values rose by 9.3%, with an average annual growth rate of 3.0%. The lowest import value was recorded in 2018 at 82 899 thousand US dollars, which also saw the largest year-on-year decline of 7.6%. Conversely, the strongest growth occurred in 2019 with a 15.6% increase.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Uruguay in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(7.6%)	15.6%	2.3%	3.0%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Brazil dominated Uruguay's pork import structure in value terms, capturing 95.1% of total import flows. Other markets accounted for only minimal shares during this period.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Uruguay in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io