Colombian Non-Mining/Petroleum Exports Surge To 13-Year High

Between January and July of this year, Colombian exports outside of mining or petroleum energy products reached $9.849 billion USD, the highest level since the 2008 value of $10.522 billion USD. According to Colombia’s Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism (MinCIT), relevant exports grew 21.8$ compared to the same period in 2020, also exceeding 2019 levels by 9.8%.

Agricultural goods, food and beverages led exports with $5.23 billion, up 16.6%. and manufactured goods increased 26.2% to $4.66 billion. Dates, figs and pineapple exports grew by 81.2%. polychlorides by 72.1%, polypropylene by 63%, construction supplies by 39.6%, flowers by 21.1%, coffee up by 13.8%, and insecticides up 13.1%.

84.5% of Colombian exports go to countries with which it has a free trade agreement.

“The result confirms that exports of non-mining energy goods are definitely walking in the positive field, even in pandemic times, but additionally they grow almost 10% compared to 2019, since 2020 was an atypical year. We are thus advancing on the path of safe economic reactivation. We set out the purpose of increasing these exports, diversifying and increasing the fabric of our exports,” said Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, María Ximena Lombana Villalba.

84.5% of what Colombia exports to the world in non-mining, non fuel products goes to countries with which the country has a current free trade agreement. Today there are 17 bilateral and multilateral trade agreements with approximately 65 countries. Growth in exports to these destinations were up 22.7%.

Highlights of the 19.6% growth in exports to Colombia’s largest trading partner, the US include polypropylene at $17.9 million USD, finished textiles at $8.6 million, pharmaceuticals at $6.5 million, and dairy concentrate at US $6.3 million, among others.

Sales also increased to Brazil, Colombia’s third largest trading partner, by 51.3%. Additionally, the Dominican Republic saw growth of 47.7%, Canada at 31.3%, Chile at 28.5%, Ecuador at 28.3%. Even neighboring Venezuela with its failed economy making up 1.5% of Colombia’s exports saw a growth in the products it imports from Colombia during the period by 52.4%.

Photo courtesy of MinCIT