Uruguay: Doing business and staying in touch
Doing Business in Uruguay
Appointments should be arranged in advance and punctuality is expected. Initial meetings usually begin with a handshake and brief informal conversation before business is discussed. Use Señor or Señora followed by the surname until invited to use first names.
Business relationships are built through personal contact and trust, and several meetings may be needed before an agreement is reached. Communication is generally polite and measured; aggressive sales tactics or pressure for an immediate decision are unlikely to be well received.
Smart, conservative dress is appropriate for formal meetings, although technology and creative businesses may be less formal. Spanish is the principal business language, so translated presentation materials and business cards with one side in Spanish are useful. Avoid arranging important meetings during January, Carnival week or Easter week, when many people take holidays.
Office Hours
Offices are generally open Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 18:00.
Government offices often have shorter public-service hours, so appointments and opening times should be confirmed in advance.
Economy
Uruguay has a high-income, predominantly service-based economy supported by political stability, strong institutions and an educated workforce. Finance, commerce, transport, tourism, telecommunications and information technology are important service industries, with Montevideo serving as the country's principal commercial and financial centre.
Agriculture, forestry and food processing contribute a smaller share of economic output but dominate merchandise exports. Beef and wood pulp are the leading exports, followed by dairy products, soybeans, rice, timber and beverage concentrates. China, Brazil, the European Union and the United States are among Uruguay's most important trading partners.
The economy is relatively small and open, leaving it sensitive to commodity prices, drought and economic conditions in neighbouring Argentina and Brazil. Growth slowed to 1.8% in 2025 after a strong recovery in 2024 and is expected to remain moderate in 2026.
GDP
US$85.36 billion (2025).
Main exports
Beef, wood pulp, dairy products, soybeans, and beverage concentrates.
Main imports
Machinery and electrical equipment, vehicles and vehicle parts, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, and petroleum products.
Main trading partners
China, Brazil, the European Union, the United States, and Argentina.
Keeping in Touch in Uruguay
Mobile Phone
Uruguay has reliable mobile coverage across Montevideo, other towns and cities, the Atlantic coast and the principal highways. Reception may be weaker in sparsely populated rural areas. The main operators are Antel, Claro and Movistar, all of which provide extensive 4G services; 5G is available in Montevideo and a growing number of urban areas.
Visitors can purchase a prepaid SIM card from an operator's shop or authorised retailer and should bring their passport for registration. The handset must be unlocked. Travel eSIMs are another option for compatible devices, though many offer only data. Uruguay's international dialling code is +598.
Internet
Internet access is widely available and generally fast and reliable, particularly in Montevideo and other urban areas. Free Wi-Fi is commonly provided by hotels, hostels, restaurants, cafés, airports and coach terminals, while public hotspots are available in some plazas and other public spaces. Connections may be slower or less dependable in remote rural areas.
Media
Uruguay has a diverse Spanish-language media landscape and generally enjoys a high degree of press freedom, although ownership of commercial television remains concentrated among a small number of companies. Online news and social media are increasingly important sources of information.
Leading newspapers and news websites include El País, El Observador, la diaria and Montevideo Portal. The principal commercial television stations are Canal 4, Canal 10 and Teledoce, while Canal 5 is the national public television service.
Radio remains popular, particularly for news, sport and current affairs. Major stations include Radio Monte Carlo, Radio Carve and Radio Sarandí, alongside the public broadcaster Radio Uruguay. There is no major national English-language newspaper or broadcaster.
