*Paraguay’s central bank (BCP) has released new foreign trade figures showing a trade deficit of US$538.8m for 2024, compared to a surplus of US$1.35bn in 2023. Exports in 2024 totalled US$15.84bn, down 7.7% on 2023. The BCP attributed the fall in exports primarily to lower sales of electric energy, a decrease in corn and soybean meal shipments, as well as a drop in soybean prices. Imports last year totalled US$16.38bn, up 3.6% on 2023.