Colombia’s Wholesale Food Supply Grows by 9.8% in March 2025

In March 2025, in the country’s main wholesale centers, food supply experienced a notable recovery, with an increase of 9.8% compared to the same month of the previous year. In total, 620,267 tons of products entered the reference wholesale markets in Colombia, reflecting a strong supply dynamic and an adequate response to market demand, according to the Bulletin of Supply of Agricultural Products and Food Security of the Rural Agricultural Planning Unit (UPRA).

This supply growth is driven by significant increases in several food groups, including fresh fruits, which grew by 12.4%, and meats, which grew by 18.6%. Other key sectors, such as grains and cereals, dairy and eggs, processed foods, vegetables, and tubers, also saw substantial increases, reflecting a broad-based recovery in the agri-food sector.

Dora Inés Rey, director of the UPRA, commented: “The increase in food supply is excellent news for the country. It shows that the agricultural sector continues to be a key driver of employment and economic development, despite challenges and fluctuations, and continues to guarantee the availability of basic products for Colombian families. This growth in wholesale centers is a clear reflection of the work of our producers and the effectiveness of the policies implemented to strengthen the sector.”

At the national level, Tibasosa, Manizales, and Valledupar cities stood out with increases in food supply of more than 20%. In contrast, some cities, such as Ipiales, Florencia, and Villavicencio, saw drops in their supply; although, in general, the outlook is positive and favors access to a wide variety of products throughout the country.

The most outstanding products in terms of increased supply were fresh fruits, with products such as mandarins, avocados, pineapples, and passion fruit reporting outstanding increases. In the case of tubers and roots, ginger and yams stood out the most; while, in vegetables, the increase in the supply of products such as carrots, paprika, and junca onions was significant.

This positive performance in supply underscores the resilience of the Colombian agricultural sector and the constant effort by producers and distributors to ensure the flow of products in the country. In addition, the coming months of April and May 2025 are expected to bring with them a new wave of products, highlighting fruits such as pears, mangoes, kiwis, and pineapples, and tubers such as cassava, potatoes, and bananas.

Photo credit: JohnyVid from Pixabay.