The land sales market is currently undergoing a period of adjustment. Juan Luis Arrospide, director of Escritorio Arrospide Negocios Rurales, believes that this price correction could be positive for owners, investors, and producers.
In a recent interview with La Mañana journal Arrospide analyzed current trends in the Uruguay farmland market, land values and ranch land in various regions, and expectations for 2025.
Juan Luis Arrospide’s experience shows that the first half of 2024 was more active in closing deals, while the second half saw a slowdown, partly due to the decline in grain values. However, he stressed that the supply of land for sale remains scarce, which keeps values stable in many regions.
Farmland values depend on several factors, but location and type of operation are fundamental aspects. These are reference parameters:
“It is difficult to categorize values in each zone because the fields are very different,” Arrospide explained in the press article, noting that each property has unique characteristics that determine its final price.
During 2024, the farmland market was marked by two main types of buyers:
Our Managing Partner also pointed out that the lack of land for sale in the rural property market remains a challenge, especially in the south of the country, where demand far exceeds supply.
The lease market has also seen significant changes. Agricultural land in the south maintains its high demand, with prices ranging:
In the current situation with livestock funds, some investment groups that dominated large areas in the north are leaving properties on the market, which could bring adjustments in lease values.
For this year, Arrospide indicates that a stable market is expected, although with some caution due to the change of government. However, he stressed that Uruguay stands out as a country that maintains its institutional and financial solidity, which continues to attract investors.
He also mentioned that the evolution of commodities (soybeans, meat, milk) will have an impact on the land market, as it always has.
We start 2025 with a stable outlook but with strategic opportunities for those looking to invest in the Uruguay farmland market.
If you are interested in buying or selling a farm in Uruguay, at Escritorio Arrospide we can advise you throughout the process. More than 40 years of experience and being founding members of CUIR, position us in the market with seriousness and professionalism.
Source: Full interview in La Mañana by Alvaro Melgarejo, February 6, 2025.