Uruguay: sanctions and trade risk

No elevated indicator

As of 7 November 2026, the screened UN, EU, UK, Swiss and US sanctions lists contain 3 companies, organisations, vessels and aircraft linked to Uruguay.Lists last checked 2026-11-07 21:01 UTC.

Logistics profile: ports, airports, customs, documents, holidays, news ↓

No elevated country indicator for Uruguay in the route rules Sanctioni uses. That is not a clearance: goods may still be export-controlled, and parties in Uruguay may still be on a list.

Check a shipment to Uruguay →

On the sanctions lists

3 entries on the official lists name Uruguay — as nationality, address, registration or flag. That links them to the country; it says nothing about other companies there. The same company can appear on several lists and is then counted once per list. Individuals are not included — Sanctioni does not process them.

List	Entries	Companies & organisations	Vessels	Aircraft
US OFAC — Specially Designated Nationals (SDN)	3	3	—	—

Latest changes

No new listings or removals naming Uruguay recorded yet.

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Logistics profile

Uruguay: logistics and trade

Atlantic hub / free-port transit country (Mercosur)

Uruguay (UY) is located on South America's Atlantic coast between Brazil and Argentina on the Río de la Plata; it is an Atlantic hub and free-port transit country within Mercosur (customs union with common external tariff AEC). The customs authority is the Dirección Nacional de Aduanas (DNA), using the electronic LUCIA system and the VUCE trade window; import VAT is 22 percent on customs value plus duty (reduced 10 percent for certain goods; Mercosur-origin goods benefit with valid proof). Main cargo airport: Carrasco (MVD), South America's first free airport, focused on pharma and perishables. Seaports: Montevideo (free port, main container gateway) and Nueva Palmira (free port, Paraná-Paraguay waterway, gateway for Paraguay, Bolivia and Brazil). Road corridors: Ruta 1 to Colonia, Ruta 5 to Rivera (Brazil border); railway Montevideo–Paso de los Toros serves UPM cellulose. Main exports: beef (cold chain), cellulose, soy products, dairy, rice; key partners: China, Brazil, Argentina and the EU.

Capital: Montevideo
Population: 3,499,451
Area: 176,215 km²
Currency: Uruguayan Peso (UYU)
Continent: South America
Region: South America / Mercosur
Economic area: Mercosur (customs union)
Religions: Catholic, Protestant, Other
Access to the sea: Yes

Transport modes Sea · Air · Road · Inland waterway · Rail

Current situation: Port of Montevideo as free port and transshipment hub remains stable; Terminal Cuenca del Plata (TCP) under expansion. Nueva Palmira as key gateway of the Paraná-Paraguay waterway for Paraguay, Bolivia and Brazil is active. New Decree 50/2026 regulates personal small imports (franchise USD 800/year from 1.5.2026) and does not change the commercial IVA obligation (22 percent). No nationwide transport disruption verified. (As of 2026-07-29)
Seasonal conditions: Temperate climate, southern winter June to August. Sudestada storms and dry periods on the Río de la Plata can affect shipping and water level.

Main seaports

Montevideo
Montevideo (UY MVD): Uruguay's main container port on the River Plate. TCP/Katoen Natie, free port, TEU up 9% Jan–May 2026, expansion to 2027, Paraguay transit.
Nueva Palmira
Nueva Palmira (UY NVP): leading agribulk transshipment port on the Río de la Plata, Hidrovía soybean & grain hub. Free zone; containers via Montevideo.
Fray Bentos
Fray Bentos (UY FZB): shallow Uruguay River port for pulp and agri goods, barge feeder to Nueva Palmira. Not a deep-sea container port.
Colonia
Colonia del Sacramento (UY CYR) is a Uruguayan ferry port linking Buenos Aires; containers route via Montevideo, bulk via Nueva Palmira.
La Paloma
La Paloma (UY LAP) is Uruguay's easternmost port, mainly a marina and artisanal fishing base with limited cargo relevance; freight routes via Montevideo.
Jose Ignacio
Jose Ignacio (UY JIT): ANCAP crude-oil terminal off Uruguay – SPM buoy, 160 km pipeline to the La Teja refinery. No general cargo – containers via Montevideo.

Main cargo airports

Capitan Corbeta CA Curbelo International AirportPDP
Punta del Este (PDP/SULS), Uruguay: seasonal tourist airport at Laguna del Sauce, 2,133 m runway, no cargo terminal. Air freight via Montevideo Carrasco (MVD).

Road corridors

Route 1 Montevideo–Colonia
Route 5 Montevideo–Rivera (Brazil border)
Route 3 towards Salto/Bella Unión
Route 9/Interbalnearia towards Chuy (Brazil border)

Rail corridors

Central Railway Montevideo–Paso de los Toros (UPM)
Line towards Rivera (Brazil border)

Inland ports

Nueva Palmira (Paraná-Paraguay waterway)
Fray Bentos (Río Uruguay)

Main trade lanes

Uruguay–China
Uruguay–Brazil
Uruguay–Argentina
Uruguay–EU (Netherlands/Germany)
Uruguay–USA

Customs and import

Customs authority Dirección Nacional de Aduanas (DNA)Official website ↗

Import customs system: LUCIA electronic customs system of the DNA, linked to the foreign trade platform VUCE; Mercosur customs union with Common External Tariff (AEC).
Export customs system: Export declaration via LUCIA/VUCE; simplified SME procedure TU Exporta for shipments up to USD 2000 goods value (Ley 19.765, Decreto 270/019).
Import VAT: Standard IVA rate 22 percent, reduced minimum rate 10 percent, exports 0 percent; assessed on customs value plus duty (DGI, Título 10).
Proofs of origin and trade agreements: Mercosur certificate of origin (ALADI model); derived certificates from free zones; CMC Decision 33/15 preserves Mercosur origin.
Restricted and prohibited goods: Permit required for, among others, weapons, medicines and narcotics, food, plant and animal products (MGAP sanitary control), and CITES species.

Typical import documents

Commercial invoice
Packing list
Bill of lading or air waybill
DUA (Declaración Única Aduanera) via LUCIA
Certificate of origin
If applicable: sanitary/phytosanitary certificate (MGAP)

Typical export documents

Commercial invoice
Packing list
Mercosur certificate of origin
Export DUA (LUCIA/VUCE)
Sanitary/phytosanitary certificate (MGAP)
Bill of lading or air waybill

Logistics conditions

Customs complexity: Medium
Customs delays: Low to medium
Port congestion: Low to medium
Dangerous goods relevance: Medium
Pharma and cold chain relevance: High
E-commerce relevance: Medium

Trade

Top import partners

China Brazil Argentina United States Germany

Top export partners

China Brazil Argentina Netherlands United States

Top import goods

Petroleum products
Vehicles
Machinery
Electronic devices
Chemical products

Top export goods

Beef
Pulp products
Soy products
Dairy products
Rice

Typical cargo

Beef (cold chain)
Pulp and wood
Soybeans and soy products
Dairy products
Rice
Wool

Upcoming public holidays

Christmas DayFri, 25 Dec 2026 · businesses closed
New Year's DayFri, 1 Jan 2027 · businesses closed
EpiphanyWed, 6 Jan 2027
Carnival (Monday)Mon, 8 Feb 2027
Carnival (Tuesday)Tue, 9 Feb 2027
Tourism Week (Thursday)Thu, 25 Mar 2027
Tourism Week (Good Friday) — non-workingFri, 26 Mar 2027 · businesses closed
Landing of the 33 OrientalsMon, 19 Apr 2027

Latest logistics news

Switzerland and 18 Partners Aim to Better Secure Supply Chains19 Jul 2026
Switzerland and 18 partner states aim to better coordinate trade and make supply chains for essential goods more resilient. New members include Peru, South Korea, and Thailand.
EU Mercosur: New Trade Agreement Opens South America to European Exports24 May 2026
As of May 1, 2026, the EU Mercosur Interim Agreement will be provisionally in force. For freight forwarders, new opportunities are arising on Latin America routes.

Logistics questions

What import tax applies in Uruguay?

The IVA applies: 22 percent standard rate, 10 percent reduced, 0 percent on exports. The tax base is customs value plus duty; collected by the DGI.

Which customs system does Uruguay use?

The customs authority Dirección Nacional de Aduanas (DNA) processes imports and exports via the electronic LUCIA system and the VUCE trade window.

Is Uruguay part of a customs union?

Yes, Uruguay is a Mercosur member and applies the common external tariff (AEC). Within the bloc, preferential rates apply with a valid proof of origin.

What makes the Port of Montevideo special?

It is a free port (Puerto Libre) and the country's main container gateway. Goods can be stored, processed and transshipped without prior customs formalities.

What is Nueva Palmira used for?

The free port at the head of the Paraná-Paraguay waterway handles grain and cellulose in transit from Paraguay, Bolivia and central-western Brazil.

What role does Carrasco Airport play?

Carrasco (MVD) is the main cargo airport and is considered South America's first free airport. The Terminal de Cargas Uruguay specialises in pharmaceuticals and perishables.

What proofs of origin are required?

For Mercosur preferences, the Mercosur certificate of origin (ALADI format) is used. For goods from free zones, derived certificates (Certificados derivados) preserve the Mercosur origin.

Are there free zones in Uruguay?

Yes, including Zonamerica, Colonia, Nueva Palmira and Punta Pereira under Ley 15.921. They offer tax and customs advantages and are a core part of the logistics strategy.

Full logistics profile on Freight Academy ↗