Concepcion is a major city in Paraguay. It is situated on the east bank of the Paraguay River in the central north of the country and has a population of approximately 50,000. The city contains sawmills, flour mills, cotton gins, sugar and castor-oil refineries, and tanneries that process hides from cattle raised in the region. The navigable Paraguay River creates commercial shipping activity in the city's port. Concepcion is also a free port for trade with Brazil.