In January 2026, Uruguay’s manufacturing output contracted by 1.5% year-on-year, reversing the strong 7.4% expansion recorded in December. The sharpest decline was observed in refined petroleum products, which fell 25.4%. Significant decreases were also seen in non-metallic mineral products (-21.8%) and rubber and plastic products (-12.2%).
On the positive side, chemical products were the main driver of growth within the sector, rising 30.7%. Beverages increased 5.2%, while wood and wood products grew 15.5%. Meanwhile, both the Index of Hours Worked and the Index of Employed Personnel declined 3.1% compared with January 2025.