Uruguay enjoys 'positive discrimination' but must lift investment and productivity, BBVA says

MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Wednesday, June 17th 2026 - 08:27 UTC

The bank forecasts that Uruguay's economy will grow 1.3% this year, below the 2.2% projected in the Budget law and the 1.6% to which the Ministry of Economy later adjusted its estimate

Uruguay enjoys a “positive discrimination” relative to other economies for its institutional solidity, respect for agreements and political maturity, but its economic growth has been low over the past decade and its potential GDP —now at 2.1%— is declining. That was the assessment of economists from BBVA Research, one of Europe's largest banks, at the “Situación Uruguay” webinar, where they said the country's main challenge is to boost investment and raise productivity.

The bank forecasts that Uruguay's economy will grow 1.3% this year, below the 2.2% projected in the Budget law and the 1.6% to which the Ministry of Economy later adjusted its estimate. “When the government set GDP growth of 2.2% in the Budget law, it was already much higher than our projection,” said economist Adriana Haring. For 2027, BBVA Research expects expansion of 1.8%, driven by consumption and exports, and holds that the country maintains solid macroeconomic fundamentals, controlled inflation and favorable access to financing.