Quick Read
- Paraguay’s beef exports are projected to reach $2.169 billion in 2025, surpassing the $2 billion mark for the first time.
- By October 2025, exports had already exceeded the previous year’s total, demonstrating 18% year-over-year growth.
- The country now exports beef to 71 destinations, with major markets including the U.S., Chile, Taiwan, Brazil, and Israel.
- Paraguay is placed in Pot 3 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 draw, confirming its participation among global football contenders.
- 70% of Paraguay’s beef production is exported, making it a key pillar of the national economy.
Paraguay’s Beef Export Triumph: Shattering Historic Ceilings
Paraguay has rewritten its own history books in 2025, not just with numbers, but with a narrative of ambition realized. For the first time, the country’s beef exports are projected to reach $2.169 billion by year-end, according to the Paraguayan Meat Chamber (CPC)—a figure that’s more than just a statistic. It’s a statement of intent, power, and transformation. Until now, the $2 billion ceiling was an aspiration, eyed by exporters and policymakers alike. Now, it’s a milestone etched into the national record.
This record-breaking performance isn’t a sudden windfall. It’s the culmination of years of strategic investment, infrastructure upgrades, and relentless coordination between government and private sector. By October 2025, Paraguay had already surpassed the previous year’s total, reaching $1.869 billion—an 18% leap from 2024. With 71 destinations receiving Paraguayan beef, including major markets like Chile, Taiwan, Brazil, Israel, and the United States, the country’s footprint in global meat supply chains is unmistakable.
Dual Engines: Volume and Premium Pricing Power
What makes 2025 exceptional for Paraguay isn’t just the volume of meat shipped, but the price achieved. As CPC General Manager Daniel Burt explains, this year saw a rare convergence: both export volumes and international prices surged, propelling revenues to heights previously thought unattainable. Paraguay isn’t just competing on cost anymore—it’s winning on quality and differentiation. The sector’s ability to command higher prices in competitive markets, as highlighted by CPC President Randy Ross Wiebe, strengthens its role in Paraguay’s broader economic landscape, driving foreign exchange and employment.
Exports now account for 70% of Paraguay’s beef production, underscoring the sector’s dominance. In an era when global beef supplies from giants like Brazil and Australia face constraints, Paraguay’s producers are reaping the rewards of careful planning and market positioning.
From Regional Player to Global Competitor
Paraguay’s ascent hasn’t been linear. December 2023 marked a pivotal moment: after 26 years, the United States finally approved fresh beef imports from Paraguay, opening North American doors and igniting a new phase of growth. Since then, market access has expanded to Canada, Singapore, and the Philippines, diversifying Paraguay’s customer base beyond its traditional buyers. The country’s ambition is clear—by late 2025, it’s targeting 12–15% of exports to land in the U.S., strengthening its position among the world’s top 10 beef exporters.
“This achievement is the result of years of public-private coordination, where health policies, control systems, market opening, investment in productive infrastructure, and the sector’s commitment converged in a single direction: to increase the competitiveness of Paraguayan beef,” said Randy Ross Wiebe, CPC President, encapsulating the journey.
Challenges Ahead and the Road to Sustainability
Despite the euphoria, Paraguay’s beef sector is not immune to risks. Climate variability and regional cattle cycles pose challenges, with some forecasts predicting a modest decline in export volumes in 2026. However, the sector’s current infrastructure investments, reputation for quality, and established market linkages position it to sustain premium pricing—even if volumes dip slightly. Paraguay’s emergence as a major player is no longer a fleeting moment, but a structural reality in global agriculture.
For a nation whose economic pillars include soybeans and hydroelectric energy, beef now shares top billing. The synergy between agricultural exports and broader economic stability is more tangible than ever.
Paraguay in FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw: A Moment in the Sporting Spotlight
Paraguay’s global rise isn’t confined to the farm or the export ledger. In December 2025, the nation found itself in the international sporting spotlight as well, securing a place in Pot 3 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 draw. The event, detailed by beIN SPORTS, placed Paraguay alongside teams such as Norway, Panama, Egypt, and Scotland, signaling its continued relevance on the football stage.
The draw is meticulous: host nations Canada, Mexico, and the United States are pre-assigned to specific groups, while competitive balance is ensured by separating the top-ranked teams into opposite brackets. For Paraguay, this means a guaranteed opportunity to compete among the world’s best, with group assignments and match schedules set to be finalized soon. The confederation restrictions and group balance rules reflect FIFA’s commitment to fairness, while fans across the globe await the match schedule’s release.
Paraguay’s sporting ambitions mirror its agricultural ones—methodical, resilient, and increasingly global. The nation’s footballers will soon step onto the world’s biggest stage, just as its beef exporters have stepped into the top tier of international trade.
A Nation Redefining Its Global Identity
The twin achievements of 2025—the shattering of beef export records and a spot in the FIFA World Cup draw—are more than just headlines. They’re proof of a country redefining its place on the world stage. Where once Paraguay might have been seen as a regional player, it now demands recognition as a competitor, innovator, and ambassador in both agriculture and sport.
Global demand for beef remains robust, particularly from Asia, the Middle East, and North America. Paraguay’s ability to navigate market volatility, respond to consumer trends, and invest in quality will determine whether 2025 is remembered as a peak—or merely a springboard for greater achievements.
As the world watches Paraguay’s athletes prepare for the World Cup and its farmers continue to break export records, one question lingers: what’s next for this quietly ambitious nation? Will its trajectory continue upward, or will new challenges force a recalibration of strategy and ambition?
Paraguay’s 2025 milestone, built on years of coordination and investment, proves its rise is not a coincidence but the result of deliberate national strategy. Whether in global markets or on the world’s football fields, Paraguay’s commitment to excellence and resilience is redefining its identity—making it a country to watch in both agriculture and sport.