Russian trade with Uruguay surges 70% to $123 mln in H1

MOSCOW. Sept 12 (Interfax) - Russia's trade turnover with Uruguay grew by 70% year-on-year to $123 million in the first half of 2025, Russian plant and animal health watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor said after a meeting of the Russia-Uruguay joint commission for promoting trade and economic ties.

The commission is co-chaired by Rosselkhoznadzor head Sergei Dankvert and Uruguayan Deputy Foreign Minister Valeria Csukasi.

Noting that Uruguay is one of Russia's traditional international commerce partners in Latin America, Dankvert said the trade turnover between the two countries grew by 23% to $150.2 million in 2024, with Russian exports to Uruguay increasing by 42.2% to $58.3 million and imports from Uruguay growing by 13.9% to $91.9 million.

He said Russia regularly supplies mineral fertilizer to Uruguay, shipping 114,000 tonnes worth $43.5 million in 2024 compared to 69,000 tonnes worth $30 million in 2023. Uruguay, meanwhile, is a significant supplier of foodstuffs and agricultural commodities. Russia imported 29,000 tonnes of products worth $90 million from the country in 2024, up from 21,000 tonnes worth $76 million a year earlier.

Promising areas of bilateral cooperation also include joint projects in energy, transportation, information technology, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, and agriculture.

"In light of the changes in the geopolitical situation and the influence of external factors on the development of Russian-Uruguayan trade, the head of the Rosselkhoznadzor drew attention to the need to take practical steps to minimize their impact on future cooperation by building new transport routes, working out an effective algorithm for interbank relations, and looking for new avenues in the project investment sphere," the agency said in the press release.