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Recent movements by Luciano Hang in Paraguay and Uruguay have highlighted the possible internationalization of Havan, bringing together political meetings, market analysis, and logistical issues that may influence the choice of the retailer’s first destination outside Brazil.
Luciano Hang has put Paraguay and Uruguay on the radar for a possible international expansion of Havan, after fulfilling agendas in both countries in July 2026, but the retailer has not yet announced where it intends to establish its first unit outside Brazil.
The trips included meetings with Paraguayan authorities and a public statement about the Uruguayan market, but have not yet resulted in the announcement of a schedule, investment, chosen location, or definitive decision on opening an international store.
Paraguay receives Havan delegation
Hang’s agenda in Paraguay lasted two days and ended on Friday, July 3, 2026, after the businessman met with President Santiago Peña and evaluated opportunities for a potential entry of the retailer into the country.
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During the visit, the founder of Havan also met with the Minister of Industry and Commerce, Marco Riquelme, accompanied by advisors and company executives interested in the industrial structure, available logistics, and the Paraguayan business environment.
The meeting with Peña gave an institutional dimension to the agenda, but did not represent the signing of a contract, confirmation of investment, or the choice of a city to host the first international operation of the Santa Catarina-based network.
According to the Paraguayan president, part of the sheets, towels, and other items sold in Havan stores are already produced in Paraguay by industries linked to the maquila regime, mainly aimed at manufacturing for export.
This commercial relationship shows that the company already maintains contact with suppliers located in the country, although the information disclosed does not allow for the conclusion that this structure will be sufficient to determine the location of a future store.
Hang praised the Paraguayan economic environment and declared that reduced taxes and incentives for entrepreneurs favor prosperity, while Peña presented Havan’s interest as a reflection of the country’s ability to attract foreign business groups.
Despite the favorable tone of the statements, the visit remained at the stage of recognition and analysis, without any announcement about land purchase, hiring of workers, licensing, unit model, or timeline for the start of a potential operation.
Uruguay enters the retailer’s evaluation
A few days after the visit to Paraguay, Hang posted, on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, a video recorded in Uruguay, in which he mentioned the possibility of Havan setting up a unit in the neighboring country.
In the recording, the businessman recalled stages of the network’s expansion within Brazil, including the brand’s arrival in Manaus and the opening of the hundredth store in Acre, before relating this trajectory to the possible international advancement.
Speaking about Uruguay, Hang asked if the network could have a store in the country someday and stated that he believes there are no limits for those who set goals and work to turn them into reality.
The statement indicated business interest, but did not confirm that Uruguay has surpassed Paraguay in the race for the first foreign unit, nor that the company has already started formal procedures to realize the project.
Logistics is part of the studies
Logistics appears among the elements examined by the Havan team, especially during the trip to Paraguay, when the company’s representatives sought to understand the industrial structure and the conditions necessary for a commercial operation outside the Brazilian market.
Even so, no comparative studies, transport costs, supply routes, or calculations were disclosed to prove an operational advantage capable of accelerating expansion from the distribution center maintained by the retailer in Santa Catarina.
Therefore, the geographical proximity of the countries to the South of Brazil may be part of the business analysis, but should not be presented as a decisive factor while Havan does not disclose data on supply, expenses, and feasibility.
The delegation that accompanied Hang in Paraguay reinforces that the evaluation involves different areas of the company, although the content of the meetings and the criteria used to compare the possible markets have not been publicly detailed.
First international store has not yet been defined
The possible internationalization arises in the year that Havan completed 40 years, a milestone mentioned during recent agendas as part of the trajectory of a company that expanded its presence across different Brazilian regions.
Even with Hang’s statements, there is no confirmation that the next stage will be immediately executed, as prospecting trips may precede financial studies, real estate negotiations, tax analyses, and regulatory processes required in each country.
There is also no reliable information about the format of a foreign unit, the intended number of jobs, the size of the operation, or any adaptations in the catalog, payment methods, and store identity.
Without a schedule or officially chosen country, Paraguay and Uruguay remain as evaluated markets, while Hang’s public statements serve as the first concrete signs that expansion into Latin America has become part of the retailer’s plans.
Will Havan turn one of these visits into its first international store or continue evaluating other markets before deciding which country will host the network’s debut outside Brazil?
