Shopping in Paraguay

Paraguay has a mixed retail structure. Hipermercados and supermercados account for 13.4% of sales and 13.7% of expenditure in the retail activities measured by INE; smaller despensas and minimarkets, cooperatives, markets and specialist shops remain widely relevant. These figures describe the structure of recorded retail activity, not a typical household budget. Technology products represent 14.9% of sales and 13.3% of expenditure in the same statistical coverage. For food and drinks, check the label, composition, quality, price, origin, validity period and stated risks. DINAVISA regulates product and establishment registrations, including Registro de Establecimiento, Registro Sanitario de Productos Alimenticios and registration for packaging that contacts food. Personal-care products, cosmetics, perfumes and household disinfectants have product-specific registration or notification requirements. Clothing is sold through local retailers and imported channels; no general nationwide return right for ordinary in-store clothing purchases is established, so confirm the size, material, price, origin and return conditions before paying. Technology sellers should state warranty coverage and identify the seller, manufacturer or importer, product, duration, address, possible consumer costs and place and date of service. Defective, used or reconditioned goods should be identified clearly. Keep the receipt, invoice, warranty and relevant messages. Paraguayan payment options include cards, bank transfers, wallets and QR payments. SIPAP is the national payment system, and its SPI component operates around the clock; since March 2026, SPI allows up to PYG 10,000,000 per transaction. Compare the amount shown at checkout with the payment confirmation and receipt. Prices for goods and services must show IVA-inclusive amounts, with the applicable rate usually 5% or 10%. Imports can also involve customs charges, freight or other costs, which should be disclosed before an online purchase is confirmed. Online shopping uses company websites, marketplaces, social networks and delivery services. MIC reported 36% e-commerce growth in 2025 and electronic transactions by about eight in ten Paraguayans over 18. Before confirmation, an online seller must disclose its identity, the product, warranty, cancellation or return arrangements, price and currency, final price, freight, additional costs, delivery conditions and relevant risks. The buyer should be able to correct input errors and must receive an express confirmation. Check HTTPS and the seller's identity, avoid unnecessary personal-data requests and save screenshots, order confirmations, chats and payment evidence. Under Ley 1334/98, consumers have rights to free choice, safety, clear information, protection against misleading advertising and unfair or coercive methods, and delivery according to the promised time, quantity, quality and price. Offers should be clear and precise in Spanish or an official language and state relevant characteristics, quantity, composition, price, warranty, validity, origin, complaint address and risks. A seven-day withdrawal rule applies to contracts made outside business premises when the product is unused and undamaged; online purchases require checking the contract and any special rule, and no general seven-day return right for ordinary in-store purchases is established. For a problem, contact the seller first and preserve the evidence. SEDECO accepts complaints online or in person from final consumers, including foreign consumers, without a fee; typical documents include identification, invoice or ticket, contract, photographs and other proof. A municipal consumer office exists only where the municipality has created one. For e-commerce complaints, the MIC Dirección General de Comercio Electrónico can receive a form and evidence by email, transfer the complaint to the provider and, where appropriate, arrange a conciliation hearing. A fixed processing deadline is not stated. Sustainable shopping practices are developing but are not yet covered by a single standardized private-retail return or take-back system. Reusable or recyclable packaging, local products and family-farming offers may be available, while separated collection depends on the locality. A 2022 national diagnosis reported a 43% post-consumer packaging recycling rate, a 53% local recycling share and about 2,500 collection points.