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Paraguay is broadening the geographic scope of its agricultural exports, with sunflower oil now reaching previously untapped Asian destinations. According to Rediex, the country's export and investment promotion agency, Paraguay commenced shipments of sunflower oil to Malaysia and Nepal between January and July 2026.
The two new markets form part of a wider expansion drive that saw 75 Paraguayan products enter 43 previously unserved destinations during the first seven months of the year. Of these, eight products were exported internationally for the first time. Rediex applies a specific methodology when classifying a new market: a country qualifies only if exports of a given product surpassed USD 50,000 in 2026, while shipments of the same product to that country had not crossed that threshold between 2019 and 2025.
Nepal emerged as one of the standout new destinations, importing sunflower oil alongside mung beans and cotton fiber from Paraguay. Malaysia also joined the growing list of buyers of Paraguayan sunflower oil.
The single largest new export flow by value, however, came from biodiesel shipments to Singapore, valued at USD 5 million. The development underscores Paraguay's efforts to expand its presence in Asia with both raw agricultural commodities and processed, value-added products.
For landlocked Paraguay, securing access to markets across South and Southeast Asia marks a meaningful shift in its trade geography. The government views diversification across both products and export destinations as a strategic priority, aimed at reducing the country's reliance on a narrow base of traditional buyers and a handful of key commodities.
Source: UkrAgroConsult