Asunción, Paraguay – Paraguay’s Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce, Lorena Méndez, has announced a significant growth in the country’s pork industry in recent years, positioning Paraguay as a leading player in the regional market. The increase in exports of pork and pork by-products has been a primary driver of this growth.

"The latest data from January to October 2024 shows a 76% increase in export volume and a 96% increase in export value compared to the same period last year," Méndez said during the 6th International Swine Industry Hygiene Seminar co-organized by the Taiwanese Embassy in Paraguay and the National Service for Animal Health and Food Safety (SENACSA).

Méndez attributed this success to Paraguay's reputation as a reliable partner in the international market, thanks to its strict sanitary standards and traceability systems. She highlighted Taiwan, which accounts for 90% of Paraguay's pork exports, as a prime example of a country that values the quality of Paraguayan products and trusts Paraguay as a reliable supplier.

The Deputy Minister also mentioned that government policies such as Law 60/90, which offers tax incentives for investments, and the maquila program have contributed to the growth of the pork industry.

José Carlos Martín, president of SENACSA, emphasized Paraguay's potential to become a major supplier of food to the global market. He stressed the need for the private sector to invest more in sow farming and reproduction.

Jose Chi-Cheng Han, the Taiwanese Ambassador to Paraguay, noted that beef exports have surged since 2020 and that the country has been actively working to open new markets for pork exports, including Taiwan. He expressed satisfaction with the current progress of Paraguay's pork exports.