MONTEVIDEO, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- Uruguay's goods exports grew 16.5 percent in 2022 to reach a record high of 13.36 billion U.S. dollars, the country's trade promotion agency Uruguay XXI said Tuesday.

Each of the first eight months of 2022 registered year-on-year increases, while the last four months saw drops in exports, the agency said in a report.

Beef was the leading export product in 2022, bringing in 2.56 billion dollars and accounting for almost 20 percent of the total exports, followed by soybeans, whose export more than doubled in value over 2021, generating 1.92 billion dollars, and cellulose, which brought in 1.82 billion dollars.

China was once again the top destination for Uruguayan exports, accounting for 28 percent of total exports or 3.62 billion dollars.

The European Union overtook Brazil to become the second-largest market for Uruguayan exports, with a 15 percent share of the total, while Brazil came in third with 14 percent of the total.

In addition, China accounted for as much as 58 percent of Uruguay's beef exports in 2022, according to Uruguay XXI.