These weather events are linked to the El Nino event; its impact is evident in the higher prices for vegetables and other products at the UAM, a wholesale distribution hub.

Consequently, tomato prices have surged, and Uruguay has had to import onions—crops usually harvested in the north, where storms, rain, and hail destroyed part of the production infrastructure and the crops themselves.

Tons of citrus fruit were also lost in the north, while the Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture, and Fisheries (MGAP) is allocating resources to support those who suffered damage.

This was the case for producers in the northern department of Salto, where a storm wreaked havoc in the early hours of July 18, bringing wind gusts of up to 130 kilometers per hour.

In response, the MGAP declared an agricultural emergency to assist farmers in a department that, in September, supplies 93% of the round tomatoes and 85% of the red bell peppers to the UAM.

In August, the Uruguayan Institute of Meteorology forecast to Parliament that the impact of El Nino would be felt in northern Uruguay starting September.

The heaviest rainfall across the country is expected between November and December, with effects continuing until April 2027, according to forecasts.

Last month, year-on-year inflation climbed to 4.68%—surpassing the Central Bank of Uruguay’s 4.5% target—with food being among the items that saw the highest price increases.

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