# Paraguay (PY)

**Capital:** Asunción  
**Currency:** Paraguayan Guarani (PYG) (PYG)  
**Population:** 6'417'076  
**Area:** 406'752 km²

> Paraguay is a landlocked country in the heart of South America and a founding Mercosur member. Despite having no sea coast it operates the world's third-largest river barge fleet: around 80 percent of foreign trade moves via the Paraguay-Parana waterway (Hidrovia) to the ports of the Rio de la Plata and onward to the Atlantic. The main river ports are Villeta, Asuncion and San Antonio. Imports are cleared electronically through the DNIT SOFIA system; import VAT (IVA) is 10 percent (reduced 5 percent). The Mercosur common external tariff applies. Key exports are soybeans, beef, grain and electricity from Itaipu and Yacyreta.

Paraguay (ISO code: PY) is a landlocked country in the heart of South America, bordering Argentina, Brazil and Bolivia. It is a presidential republic and a founding member of Mercosur. The climate is subtropical to tropical, with a pronounced rainy season and mild winters. The economy is shaped by agriculture - soy, maize, beef and cereals - and by hydropower from the Itaipu and Yacyreta dams, which makes Paraguay one of the world's largest electricity exporters. Although it has no sea coast, Paraguay operates the third-largest river barge fleet in the world; around 80 percent of its foreign trade moves along the Paraguay-Parana waterway (Hidrovia) to the ports of the Rio de la Plata. Customs and tax administration were merged into the DNIT in 2024; imports are cleared via the SOFIA system, with import VAT of 10 percent. The Mercosur common external tariff applies, and the national currency is the Guarani (PYG).

**Top Import Partners:** CN, BR, AR, US, DE

**Top Export Partners:** BR, CL, AR, RU, US

**Top Import Goods:** Erdölprodukte, Fahrzeuge, Maschinen, Elektronische Geräte, Chmische Produkte

**Top Export Goods:** Sojabohnen, Rindfleisch, Elektrizität, Getreide, Baumwolle

**Key Airports:**
- [Aeropuerto Internacional Dr. Luis Maria Argaña (ESG)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/aeropuerto-internacional-dr-luis-maria-argana-airport-esg)
- [Aeropuerto Internacional Guaraní (AGT)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/aeropuerto-internacional-guarani-airport-agt)
- [Aeropuerto Internacional Silvio Pettirossi (ASU)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/aeropuerto-internacional-silvio-pettirossi-airport-asu)
- [Aeropuerto Internacional Tte. Amín Ayub González (ENO)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/aeropuerto-internacional-tte-amin-ayub-gonzalez-airport-eno)
- [Aeropuerto Nacional Doctor Juan Plate (VMI)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/aeropuerto-nacional-doctor-juan-plate-airport-vmi)
- [Aeropuerto Nacional Dr. Augusto Roberto Fuster (PJC)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/aeropuerto-nacional-dr-augusto-roberto-fuster-airport-pjc)
- [Aeropuerto Nacional Juan de Ayolas (AYO)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/aeropuerto-nacional-juan-de-ayolas-airport-ayo)
- [Aeropuerto Nacional Tte. Cnel. Carmelo Peralta (CIO)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/aeropuerto-nacional-tte-cnel-carmelo-peralta-airport-cio)
- [Aeropuerto Nacional de Coronel Oviedo](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/aeropuerto-nacional-de-coronel-oviedo-airport-7550)
- [Aeropuerto Nacional de Itaipú](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/aeropuerto-nacional-de-itaipu-airport-14834)

## Customs & Import

**Import VAT:** Einfuhr-IVA 10 Prozent Normalsatz  
**Customs complexity:** mittel  
**Customs system:** Elektronische Einfuhrabfertigung über das System SOFIA der DNIT (Gerencia General de Aduanas, vormals DNA). Anmeldung durch lizenzierte Zollagenten; Ventanilla Única del Importador (VUI) für Zusatzbewilligungen.  
**Customs authority:** [Dirección Nacional de Ingresos Tributarios (DNIT), Gerencia General de Aduanas](https://www.dnit.gov.py)

## Logistics & Risk

**Logistics role:** Binnenstaat mit Fluss-Logistik / Agrarexporteur  
**Economic area:** Mercosur  
**Logistics risk:** mittel  
**Dangerous goods relevance:** mittel  
**Pharma/cold chain:** mittel bis hoch

## Sources & Last Verified

- [https://www.dnit.gov.py](https://www.dnit.gov.py)
- [https://www.dnit.gov.py/web/portal-institucional/dtic-sofia](https://www.dnit.gov.py/web/portal-institucional/dtic-sofia)
- [https://ghp.com.py/news/ley-7143-que-crea-la-direccion-nacional-de-ingresos-tributarios/](https://ghp.com.py/news/ley-7143-que-crea-la-direccion-nacional-de-ingresos-tributarios/)
- [https://www.dnit.gov.py/web/portal-institucional/w/iva-tasas](https://www.dnit.gov.py/web/portal-institucional/w/iva-tasas)
- [https://www.bacn.gov.py/leyes-paraguayas/9332/ley-n-6380](https://www.bacn.gov.py/leyes-paraguayas/9332/ley-n-6380)
- [https://www.economia.gov.py/index.php/paraguay-y-el-mundo/aranceles-la-importacion](https://www.economia.gov.py/index.php/paraguay-y-el-mundo/aranceles-la-importacion)
- [https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/policies/eu-mercosur-agreements-explained/](https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/policies/eu-mercosur-agreements-explained/)
- [https://www.mercosur.int/en/efta-mercosur-free-trade-agreement-joint-statement](https://www.mercosur.int/en/efta-mercosur-free-trade-agreement-joint-statement)

*Last verified: 2026-06-27*

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*Freight Academy — Country Profile: [https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/py](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/py)*

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