Fitch Ratings has conducted a portfolio review of Colombian and Central American banks following Colombia’s sovereign rating outlook revision to negative from stable. Fitch revised the outlook on Colombia’s ratings to negative from stable due to the deterioration in its fiscal position and uncertain prospects for corrective measures.

The central government fiscal deficit for 2024 came in at 6.7% of GDP, sharply underperforming Fitch’s forecast of 5.6% of GDP, mainly due to revenue shortfalls and an inability to implement offsetting spending cuts.

Fitch’s assessment of the Operating Environment (OE) for Colombian banks remains unchanged, despite the negative outlook on the sovereign rating. This outlook is mostly driven by worsening fiscal and public debt dynamics, but not necessarily reflecting weaker economic activity or any other material headwind to the banks’ operating conditions.

The banking system’s sufficient capitalization, improving profitability, and reducing loan impairment charges provide adequate resilience to withstand stress from government and external shocks. GDP growth is projected to increase to approximately 2.7% in 2025, up from 1.7% in 2024.

This portfolio review includes Colombian banks with Issuer Default Ratings (IDR) rated at the same level or above that of the sovereign. Fitch believes these ratings are more sensitive to a potential downgrade of the sovereign rating. Furthermore, the agency will not rate Colombian FIs higher than the sovereign rating, based on their current intrinsic credit profiles, except for those with highly-rated parents. Fitch has affirmed all the ratings for the Colombian banks included in this review.

The Viability Ratings (VR) were not reviewed at this time, given that these ratings do not have explicit outlooks, and also considering the affirmation of the OE score with a stable outlook. However, VRs at the ‘bb+’ level would likely be downgraded in the scenario of a potential sovereign downgrade, as Fitch rarely rates a bank’s VR higher than the respective sovereign rating.

The banks’ national ratings, as well as those of other financial institutions rated in Colombia, are not directly impacted, as these ratings reflect the relative strengths and weaknesses of each institution in a specific jurisdiction.
Rating actions have also been taken on the Colombian FI’s Central American subsidiaries, specifically in Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Panama.

Fitch Ratings building Photo credit: Shashank457.

According to the UPRA‘s wholesale prices of agricultural products bulletin, in May 2025, there were variations in wholesale food prices, with reductions in fresh fruits, tubers, and some meats, and increases in vegetables, grains, eggs, and processed products.

Among the foods that reported falls in their prices are black and creole potatoes (more than 10%), arracacha, plantains, and pork, whose different cuts fell without exceeding 5%. Some cuts of chicken, such as wings, legs, and breast, also decreased, as did fruit such as mango, passion fruit, tangerine, lemon, orange, and papaya. In the vegetable group, products such as junca onions, broccoli, green beans in pods, and paprika became cheaper.

In contrast, the largest price increases were recorded in vegetables such as white and red onions, tomatoes, cucumbers, green peas in pods, and carrots, with variations of more than 10%. Products such as beans, pumpkins, and some lettuce also rose. The rise in green peas, for example, was explained by lower availability from regions such as Nariño, Cundinamarca, and Antioquia, while cucumber was affected by harvest pauses in Norte de Santander, Risaralda, and Boyacá.

“Technical monitoring of price behavior is key to understanding the dynamics of the agri-food system. With this data, we can anticipate risks that affect food safety. Productive planning requires reliable information to make timely decisions in public policy,” said Dora Inés Rey, director of the UPRA.

In the group of grains and cereals, decreases were observed in imported products such as dry peas, threshed yellow corn, and lentils, while some varieties of domestic beans, prime rice, and imported husk corn became more expensive. As for processed foods, the prices of refined sugar, wheat flour, vegetable oil, and ground coffee rose, while products such as sunflower oil, cornstarch, and some pasta decreased.

The behavior of prices during May reflects, in several cases, the effect of weather conditions and harvest closures, as well as normal market adjustments. These data allow us to better understand the relationship between production, supply, and prices, which is key to guiding national agri-food policy.

Eggs. Photo credit: akirEVarga from Pixabay.

Colombia’s non-mining energy sector demonstrated significant export performance in the first quarter of this year, with its total exports surpassing the 2025 target by 10.9 percentage points. Between January and March, this sector accounted for 65.4% of Colombia’s total exports of goods and services.

During the first three months of 2025, Colombia’s service exports totaled $4.761.9 million USD, representing a 9.6% increase compared to the same period in 2024. When combined with non-mining energy goods exports, which totaled $6.139.9 million USD during the same period, the aggregate non-mining exports (goods and services) amounted to $10.901.8 million USD. This represents a 17.05% growth compared to the first quarter of 2024.

This performance signifies that non-mining goods and services constituted 65.4% of the country’s total exports of these two categories between January and March. An analysis by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism indicates that this participation rate exceeds the 2025 projected goal of 54.5% by 10.9 percentage points.

Services Sector Performance

Within the services category, tourism, specifically travel and transportation, was the primary driver of export growth, according to data from the Bank of the Republic, Colombia’s central bank.

Travel exports totaled $2,430.5 million USD, growing by 11.6% in the first three months of the year. This sub-sector alone accounted for 51% of all service exports. Transportation exports reached $820.6 million USD, an increase of 17.2% from the first quarter of 2024, and represented 17.2% of the total services sold internationally during the period.

Additionally, “other business services” contributed to the overall growth, with foreign sales totaling $797.2 million USD, a 2.3% increase, representing 16.7% of service exports. Telecommunications and computer services also contributed. They totalled $486.9 million USD, increased by 9% and 10.2% participated in that basket.

Banco de la Republica, the central bank of Colombia, in Bogotá. Photo credit: Banco de la Republica.

In May 2025, the food and non-alcoholic beverages market presented a monthly variation of 0.6%, which exceeds the national total (0.32%) by 0.28 percentage points, to rank as the sector with the highest increase of the month. This behavior confirms the pressure that certain products in the basic goods basket continue to exert on the cost of living of Colombian households.

The increase in May was higher than that recorded in the same month of 2024 (0.51%). The foods that contributed the most to this behavior were tomatoes (+12.28%), coffee (+5.47%), beef (+0.7%), onions (+5.66%), and eggs (+1.02%). In contrast, products such as potatoes (-3.68%), chicken (-0.79%), fresh fruits (-0.81%), and oranges (-5.14%) showed reductions in their prices.

In the current year (January to May), the prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages have increased by 4.88%, placing them above the national variation (3.63%). This performance has been marked, in particular, by tomatoes (+61.38%), coffee (+26.89%), fresh vegetables and legumes (15.5%), fresh fruit (+9.83%), and beef (3.72%). In contrast, products such as bananas (6.11%), rice (1.04%), and carrots (10.13%) have contributed to mitigating the rise.

In annual terms (May 2025 vs. May 2024), the food and non-alcoholic beverages division presented a variation of 4.71%, below the national variation (5.05%), being the sixth division with the lowest increase in the period. The foods with the highest increases were chocolate (+49.24%), tomatoes (+44.95%), coffee (+28.12%), beef (+4.02%), and fresh fruits (+6.51%). Potatoes (-17.6%), tree tomatoes (-23.93%), and blackberries (-16.77%) were the products with the greatest price drops.

“The behavior of food prices confirms the importance of planning agricultural production based on technical information. Tools such as productive ordering make it possible to anticipate supply pressures, identify cycles of scarcity, and guide public policies that contribute to stabilizing prices and guaranteeing food security,” said Dora Inés Rey, director of the UPRA.

Tomatoes. Photo credit: Myriams-Fotos from Pixabay.

Exports from the agricultural and agro-industrial sector, in April 2025, registered the highest value and volume exported for that month since comparable information is available; thus, agriculture is consolidated as an engine of economic growth and international projection.

During April, the country exported $1.397 million USD, with an increase of 47.5% compared to the same month in 2024. In terms of volume, exports reached 726,529 tons, which represents an increase of 32.1% compared to the same month of the previous year. In particular, foreign sales of coffee increased by $223 million USD, with a growth of 85.9%, while palm and palm kernel oil increased by $84.1 million USD (+158.9%), and bananas increased by $35.5 million USD (+29.3%).

In the cumulative analysis of the year to date (January-April), agricultural and agro-industrial exports also reached historic figures: $5.079 million USD in value (+39.8%) and 2,172,629 tons exported (+11.9%).

“These results confirm that the Colombian agricultural sector has the capacity not only to supply the domestic market, but also to compete in international markets with quality products, added value, and export vocation. The planning of the productive territory and the articulation between chains is key to sustainably maintaining this growth,” said Dora Inés Rey, acting director of the UPRA.

In volume, in May, the performance was led by products such as bananas (increase of 60,929 tonnes exported, +25.9%), palm oil and palm kernel (increase of 58,288 tonnes, +115.4%) and bananas (increase of 21,333 tons, +144.7%); These data show a recovery in the export supply in different regions of the country.
In the accumulation of the last 12 months (May 2024 to April 2025), agricultural and agro-industrial exports grew 24.7% in value and 6.6% in volume compared to the same period of the previous year, ratifying a trend of sustained expansion of the sector.

Colombia produces both Chontaduros from the peach palm and oil palm for consumption and export. Photo credit: UPRA.

The word ‘Bello’ translates to handsome or beautiful in English, but there was nothing pretty about events in the city of Bello, close to Medellín, as once again an enormous landslide devoured infrastructure and human lives in equal measure. It is only a few months since we were discussing a similar situation in Sabaneta at the opposite end of the valley. The message to all of those politicians expressing sympathy and calling for support is the same – take a good look around you at who is allowing the building permits and the stripping back of nature, directly or indirectly many of these deaths are coming from the self-same corruption that has been crippling Colombia for decades.

Elsewhere, a ‘relatively’ quiet week – likely because it is sandwiched between two long weekends – with the politicians somewhat becalmed.

The labor reform was signed into law by Gustavo Petro. Make no mistake, he has played this extremely well. It was dead in the dust a few weeks ago, and whilst not 100% of what he wanted, he has moved the needle for millions of workers. What will now happen with the decree, referendum & national assembly, remains to be seen, but one questions whether there is much appetite.

On the pension reform, which was sent back to congress, we await developments.

The ratings agencies were busy this week. S&P Global lowered Colombia’s rating from BB+ to BB (outlook negative) whilst Moody’s ratings lowered from Baa2 to Baa3 (outlook stable). In short – the long term fiscal situation.

Fedesarrollo reported industrial & retail confidence data for May, and they were interesting. Retail sales are booming, but retail confidence dropped marginally to +21% whilst industrial confidence rose from -0.3% to +6.1%, despite struggling manufacturing production numbers.

The Banco de la República – Colombia is expected by almost everyone to leave overnight rates at 9.25% today.

The Peso ($4042) has dropped to levels not seen in 2025; there are several factors at play. The US under Donald Trump is not a place to safeguard your money, the Colombian political temperature is subsiding, and the local economy continues in rude health. That final factor may not be convenient for the mainstream press, but the economy is growing well, unemployment is at record lows, and inflation is easing. The deficit remains a real concern, and it remains to be seen whether Ministerio Avila can both pass a robust tax reform and rein in government spending somewhat.

About it for this Friday. Have a great day.

Roops.

Never miss Rupert’s latest commentary.
Follow him now on LinkedIn to see What Jumps Out.

Colombian Peso. Photo credit: Jared Wade.

Chazey Partners, a global management consulting firm specializing in business transformation, technology enablement, has a strong track record in Latin America, assisting organizations across various sectors implement shared services and managing their outsourcing diligence and vendor management. The company recently launched an innovative new offering called FlexBPO. Finance Colombia was on hand at their kickoff event that took place at the Four Seasons Casa Medina in Bogotá. 

In this interview, Loren Moss, executive editor of Finance Colombia, spoke with Esteban Carril, Managing Director for Latin America at Chazey Partners, about the company’s latest innovative offering: FlexBPO. This unique service delivery solution is designed to provide organizations with flexibility and agility in outsourcing key support functions such as Finance, Human Resources, Procurement, and IT.

With Chazey Partners’ deep expertise in guiding companies in establishing and optimizing shared services centers, particularly in the Latin American region, FlexBPO presents a novel approach to the outsourcing landscape. The conversation explores the benefits and unique aspects of FlexBPO, delving into when this model is most appropriate for organizations looking for a more adaptable and efficient outsourcing strategy.

Finance Colombia: I’m here with Esteban Carril. We’re here in Bogotá at the Four Seasons, lovely Four Seasons Casa Medina. You just had an event, and it’s interesting because I’ve known you for about 15 years, and to see how Chazey Partners has grown and evolved… However, one of the things I wanted to discuss is that you have just introduced something truly unique in the sector, called FlexBPO. Could you tell us a little bit about FlexBPO?

Esteban Carril: Well, thank you very much for the time, Loren. Yes, absolutely. I mean, given our experience, our track record in implementing captive organizations across the different countries in Latin America, we found out that there are a number of companies, especially in the US, that are looking for more flexibility when it comes to BPO. And we’re offering a kind of captive organization, but being managed by us and empowered by our intelligent automation team, including our transformational background, so this is unique in terms of the value offer, right?

Finance Colombia: Yeah, I was going to say because we have traditional BPO and then Chazey has such a track record in consulting with shared services, companies that possibly are migrating away from BPO and setting up their own shared services operation, especially in Latin America; strong, of course, here in Colombia, places like Costa Rica, Mexico, even Brazil. But this FlexBPO, it really is kind of a new concept. And when is it appropriate for an organization to explore? I don’t want to say hybrid model because hybrid already kind of has a meaning in our industry.

But when is it something that you think makes sense for a company?

Esteban Carril: There are two different types of targets, right? Some companies already have BPOs, and they are not very happy, especially when it comes to analytical work or when it comes to real-time processing or customer-facing roles. So there are several companies, especially in the US, that are not very happy with the existing performance of their BPO providers, and that’s where it becomes an opportunity to move to this FlexBPO model.

There are other companies where you see various mature GBS organizations that they already captured a lot of benefits and a lot of efficiencies, and there is an opportunity to get additional value through transformation and intelligent automation through FlexBPO. So I would probably say both, right? I mean, we have both types of companies where we’re currently targeting this service.

Finance Colombia: I think that it’s an innovative model. I know that you guys are going to have a lot of traction. But I want to shift gears a little bit as well, because Chazey has gone through a lot of growth and evolution, so if we talk more broadly, I think you guys have something like over 150 consultants now, but over 3,000 people altogether on your team. And I know that you guys went through a kind of structural change, you guys took on a strategic partner. Give us a little bit, because we haven’t had a chance to talk for a while, you know…

So maybe give us an update on what’s happening with Chazey Partners.

Esteban Carril: Absolutely, so our company was acquired back in the year 2022 by a big BPO provider called QX Global Group, and this group was looking to provide services, especially in Latin America and the Americas in general. So we’re bringing the transformation and consulting arm that most of the BPO providers currently don’t have, and at the same time, we are leveraging all their experience and practices for the BPO environment, so we can offer them through our FlexBPO model. So this is really a very interesting model, because we mix our consulting background with our BPO background from our parent company to come up with a unique offer to our clients.

“I was surprised by the English skill sets that the new generations are bringing, especially when it comes to near-shoring operations.” – Esteban Carril

Finance Colombia: Now, here at today’s event that you guys sponsored for shared services, you talked about the impact that AI is having. What are the types of challenges that you see with your clients when it comes to adopting, you know, you’ve got some name brand clients here, I don’t want to necessarily name them without permission, that’s, you know, some companies are proud of it, some companies have different reasons… But still, I remember, if you remember back five years ago with the pandemic, everybody was talking about technological debt and the ability to be agile and move from an on-premises to a remote modality, and that was kind of the big thing, and now we look at generative AI. And where are you finding the need and the ability to help your clients, and what are the pain points that they’re coming to you to help them navigate?

Esteban Carril: So there are several challenges right now, right? When we’re thinking about intelligent automation, the first challenge that comes to mind is mainly to build internal capabilities when it comes to, you know, trying to build an internal team to develop bots and maintain bots, etc., etc. So that’s number one. I think there’s a unique requirement in trying to build the capability internally within the companies.

Number two is when it comes to master data management. Most of the companies, they don’t have the right data to scale intelligent automation, artificial intelligence, so I think one of the key challenges that the companies have right now is mainly trying to clean their data, to set up some clear governance models, and trying to have the clean data so they can explore, empower, and scale the artificial intelligence functionalities.

So I mean, I would probably think that GBS is kind of very well positioned to, you know, to drive these initiatives, not only because they have the right skill sets when it comes to talent availability, problem resolution, data analytics; but also when it comes to the number of volume transactions that are coming through the GBS operations. So right now, if you combine intelligent automation and processes, you can really start enhancing your client experience by making sure that you can provide predictive analytics, provide proactive recommendations to internal clients.

Finance Colombia: Great, and I’ll let you go pretty soon. You’ve been generous with your time. I think we both have planes to catch, but last question. You guys have a presence, I know, in over 20 countries. Here in Latin America, you guys are extremely strong. You run the Latin American operations. You guys selected Bogotá, Colombia, for this FlexBPO concept. Of all the places you could have chosen, a lot of places are powerhouses and shared services, and BPO. The Caribbean, Mexico, and Costa Rica, throughout the Americas. Why, of all places, Bogotá?

Esteban Carril: So I probably think that right now, when we look at the landscape in Latin America, and Colombia, especially Bogotá, it brings several advantages. Talent availability. I was surprised by the English skill sets that the new generations are bringing, especially when it comes to near-shoring operations. It’s also in terms of labor costs. Right now, Colombia is probably bringing the most competitive labor costs in the region. So there are a number of factors. The country, or the city, is currently not really saturated when it comes to the number of GBS organizations. So there are a number of factors why we believe that Colombia, especially Bogotá, is very well-placed today to bring more near-shoring operations.

Finance Colombia: Wonderful. Well, congratulations. I know that it’s going to be a successful stage of growth for you guys.

Esteban Carril: Absolutely. And you’re invited next time to come here. Next year, we’re going to have the same breakfast, and you will be invited to come here as well.

Finance Colombia: Count on it. Absolutely.

Fitch Ratings has revised the outlooks on Colombian Corporates’ Foreign Currency (FC) and Local Currency (LC) Issuer Default Ratings (IDR) to negative. The action followed the recent revision of Colombia’s sovereign outlook to negative.

Fitch affirmed Ecopetrol S.A.‘s Long-Term Foreign and Local Currency Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) at ‘BB+’ and revised the outlook to negative from stable, reflecting the change in the rating outlook of the Republic of Colombia’s IDR (BB+/Negative).

The strong linkage to the sovereign reflects Colombia’s credit profile. The ratings also reflect the Colombian government’s significant incentive to support Ecopetrol in the event of financial distress. This support stems from Ecopetrol’s strategic importance as a key liquid fuel supplier in Colombia and owner of 100% of the country’s refining capacity.

Fitch affirmed Interconexion Electrica S.A. E.S.P.’s (ISA) Long-Term Foreign and Local Currency Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) at ‘BBB’ and revised the outlook to negative from stable, in line with Ecopetrol. ISA’s credit profile matches its ‘BBB’ rating and is not limited by the credit profile of its controlling owner, Ecopetrol. According to Fitch’s “Parent and Subsidiary Linkage Rating Criteria,” because Ecopetrol owns more than 51% of ISA, linkage should be considered in the assessment. The presence of regulatory ring-fencing mechanisms, material minority shareholders, and a track record of strong governance practices prevents Ecopetrol’s capacity to extract value from its stronger subsidiary.

Fitch views ISA’s funding and cash management policies as highly autonomous from Ecopetrol, expects ISA to maintain its independence, positively reflected in the ratings. Consequently, ISA’s ratings result from a ‘consolidate plus two’ approach to an IDR of ‘BBB’. Any changes in ISA’s corporate governance, business, or financial strategy may exert downward pressure on the company, particularly in the event of a structural increase in its dividend payout ratio.

Fitch affirmed Oleoducto Central S.A. (OCENSA)‘s Long-Term Foreign and Local Currency Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) at ‘BB+’ and revised the outlook to negative from stable, in line with Ecopetrol. OCENSA’s ratings reflect its linkage with Ecopetrol’s credit profile, the largest crude oil producer in Colombia and OCENSA’s main off-taker. OCENSA’s operations are integral to Ecopetrol’s core business due to operational synergies. Ecopetrol relies heavily on OCENSA’s infrastructure to transport crude oil from production fields to refineries and export terminals. Fitch considers OCENSA strategically important for Ecopetrol because it transported 82% of Ecopetrol’s crude oil production in 2Q24.

Fitch affirmed A.I. Candelaria (Spain), S.A.’s Long-Term Foreign and Local Currency Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) at ‘BB’ and revised the outlook to negative from stable, in line with OCENSA. A.I. Candelaria’s outstanding notes will remain structurally subordinated to OCENSA’s outstanding $400 million USD notes. As the holding company, A.I. Candelaria depends on dividends from OCENSA to service its obligations. Therefore, a substantial leverage increase at OCENSA could increase the structural subordination of A.I. Candelaria’s creditors.

This risk is mitigated by OCENSA’s record of stable dividend distributions and A.I. Candelaria’s right to veto changes to OCENSA’s dividend policy and capex plans above $100 million USD. Fitch believes the projected dividend stream will be more than sufficient to cover interest expense and principal payments on A.I. Candelaria’s outstanding notes.

Fitch affirmed Grupo Energia Bogotá S.A. E.S.P. (GEB)‘s Long-Term Foreign and Local Currency Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) at ‘BBB’ and revised the outlook to negative from stable, reflecting the change to the rating outlook of the IDR of Bogotá (BB+/Negative). Fitch assesses GEB’s Standalone Credit Profile (SCP) at ‘bbb’. GEB operates independently and autonomously, positively affecting its ratings.

Fitch believes regulatory ring-fencing mechanisms, material minority shareholders, and strong governance practices reduce the parent’s capacity to extract value from its stronger subsidiary. Under Fitch’s “Parent-Subsidiary Rating Criteria,” these factors lead Fitch to rate GEB two notches above Bogotá’s consolidated profile.

Fitch affirmed Transportadora de Gas Internacional S.A. ESP (TGI)‘s Long-Term Foreign and Local Currency Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) at ‘BBB’ and revised the outlook to negative from stable, in line with GEB. Fitch caps TGI’s SCP at Colombia’s ‘BBB-‘ country ceiling, as 100% of the company’s 2024 EBITDA was generated in Colombia.

TGI’s ratings receive a one-notch uplift considering GEB’s medium-to-high operational and strategic incentives to support TGI, equalizing their ratings, per Fitch’s Parent-Subsidiary Linkage Criteria. These incentives reflect GEB’s nearly 100% ownership of TGI and the substantial financial contribution to GEB of approximately 45% of GEB’s operating EBITDA. Fitch also expects investment in Colombia and midstream businesses, such as TGI’s, to remain a strategic focus for GEB’s future growth.

Fitch affirmed Empresas Publicas de Medellín E.S.P. (EPM)‘s Long-Term Foreign and Local Currency Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) at ‘BB+’ and revised the outlook to negative from stable, reflecting the change to the rating outlook of Medellín’s IDR (BB+/Negative). The linkage reflects the financial relevance of the company to Medellín, the lack of effective documentation that limits dividend distribution, and the city’s influence on the company’s administration and operations. EPM’s distributions contribute an average of 20% or more of government revenues and a material 20%-30% of the city’s investment budget.

Fitch affirmed Enel Colombia S.A. E.S.P.’s Long-Term Foreign and Local Currency Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) at ‘BBB’ and revised the outlook to negative from stable, reflecting the change to the rating outlook of the Republic of Colombia’s IDR. The company is headquartered in Colombia (BB+/Negative), and its operation in this country represented approximately 90% of its consolidated EBITDA accumulated for the LTM ended September 2024.

Fitch caps Enel Colombia’s SCP at Colombia’s ‘bbb-‘, given the substantial cash flow generation from the country. Cash flows from the operations in Panama (BB+/Stable), Guatemala (BB/Positive), and Costa Rica (BB/Positive), exceed the company’s hard currency debt service coverage for the next 12 months by more than 1.5x.

Hidroituango hydroelectric dam. (Photo credit: EPM)

Medellín’s City Hall released data from January to August 2024 showing a significant increase in the number of foreign tourists visiting the city.  According to the administration of Mayor Federico Gutierrez, Medellín welcomed 1,192,623 passengers through the José María Córdova Airport, compared to 2023, when the city received 950,743 tourists.

The City Hall also revealed that 95.6% of these trips were for tourism, while the remaining percentages were for business, events, or medical treatments. These figures have solidified Medellín’s position as the second most connected city in Colombia, with 5,452 monthly flights, and 65.9% of them are domestic flights.

However, Medellín continues to battle against sexual exploitation.

In September 2024, six establishments were temporarily closed due to irregularities. In 2024, the local administration carried out 97 inspections of establishments, 28 visits to commercial sites, and issued 25 temporary suspension orders. Between January and August, Medellín assisted 139 minors at risk of exploitation, with 59 of them entering legal processes for the restoration of their rights.

The City Hall extended curfews for minors in high-risk areas until December 2024. Manuel Villa Mejía, Secretary of Security, stated: “The number of reports has increased, and we want to emphasize that reporting these crimes is truly about protecting children; we urge the public to stay vigilant so that together, we can safeguard them.”

What is the protocol for handling sexual offenses?

Medellín has activated the phone line 324 574 3645 for reporting suspected cases of child sexual exploitation, which alerts a special response team. Additionally, the ‘Parceras’ helpline at 324 574 3647 is available as a support channel for victims of violence or sexual exploitation, where they can receive professional orientation.

As of September 23, 2024, which was marked as the International Day Against Sexual Exploitation and Human Trafficking, the City Hall reported that 139 minors have received support for cases of sexual violence in Medellín, with arrests for this crime increasing by 160%. Captain Jeyson Rodríguez, Head of the Childhood and Adolescence Division of the Metropolitan Police of Medellín, added: “We’ve received a total of 22,000 calls to the 123 line, compared to 13,271, specifically related to child and adolescent protection requests.”

Photo credit: City of Medellín.

The Rural Agricultural Planning Unit (UPRA), through the Information System for Agricultural Risk Management (Sigra), presented the Agroclimatic Bulletin for May 2025, with territorial and crop estimates against the projected climate behavior. Based on IDEAM (Colombia’s Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies)  predictions, it was identified that 0.7% of the agricultural frontier in Colombia, that is, about 300,000 hectares, is at specific risk, mainly low, due to excess rainfall in different regions of the country for the period between May and October.

“Although the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon is in a neutral phase and does not directly influence current weather conditions, the bulletin warns that there is still a high probability of rainfall above historical averages in several departments, with the potential for extreme events that could seriously impact agricultural production systems and rural infrastructure,” said Alfonso Triana.  A specialized professional of the UPRA.

Likewise, Cesar Cortés, UPRA expert, explained: “The UPRA analysis reveals that this risk would especially affect crops of banana, cocoa, coffee, fruit trees, vegetables, roots and tubers, with the possibility of anoxia in soils, spread of diseases and logistical difficulties for marketing, mainly in the Andean, Pacific, Caribbean regions and areas of the Orinoquia and Amazon.”

The departments with the highest concentration of vulnerable hectares are Antioquia, Cundinamarca, Cauca, Boyacá, Tolima, and Nariño, which reinforces the need to take measures with a differential and territorial approach.

The report also provides a detailed overview by region and municipality. “In the Andean region alone, around 340,000 ha were identified at low risk and about 1,500 ha at medium risk, distributed in 41 municipalities. In the Caribbean, more than 85,000 ha are at low risk and 624 ha at medium risk, while in the Pacific, low risk affects about 195,000 ha. In the Amazon and Orinoquía, although the area at risk is smaller, the vulnerability of rural infrastructure is a concern,” said Alexander Rodríguez Romero, UPRA’s technical director of efficient land use and land adaptation.

The bulletin includes an analysis by crop group that shows that, although the cultivated area at medium risk represents only 0.05% of the national total (2,440 ha of 4.7 million), the impact can be severe depending on the type of production:

• Fruit trees: 1,063 ha at risk (43.6% of the total at risk).
• Traditional tropical crops (cocoa, coffee, sugarcane): 891 ha.
• Oilseeds: 182 ha.
• Vegetables: 64 ha with a high proportion affected (0.09% of the total cultivated group).
• Cereals (maize and rice): 99 ha.
• Roots and tubers (potato, cassava, yams): 108 ha.
• Legumes and aromatics: 33 ha in total.

For her part, Dora Inés Rey Martínez, acting director of UPRA, concluded: “Faced with this panorama, UPRA reiterates the need for informed and preventive agroclimatic planning. Producers are recommended to adopt water management, drainage, pest monitoring, and planting staggering practices. Likewise, a call is made to the territorial authorities to strengthen agroclimatic technical assistance and support the most exposed territories with infrastructure and differential actions.”

Key figures:

• 0.7% of the agricultural frontier in Colombia, that is, about 300,000 hectares, is at specific risk, mainly low, due to excess rainfall in different regions of the country for the period between May and October.
• 2,440 hectares under cultivation are estimated at medium risk, especially fruit trees (43.6% of the total).
• Andean and Pacific regions, the most exposed by medium and low risk.

Walking in the rain. Photo credit: wal_172619 from Pixabay.