The positive performance of supply was reflected in 18 of the 23 cities where the monitoring is carried out, with growth in Tibasosa (79.5%), Tunja (42.1%), Manizales (30.8%), Valledupar (25.3%), and Montería (21.5%). The highest percentage growth was observed mainly in fish, dairy and eggs, tubers, roots and bananas, processed foods, and grains and cereals.

The analysis of the data also shows a sustained recovery in supply throughout the year. In the period between January and June 2025, the total volume entered wholesale centers increased by 3.4% compared to the same period in 2024. This evolution is explained by the dynamism observed in key groups such as grains and cereals, processed foods, dairy products and eggs and fish, with no falls in any food group.

Supply monitoring is a vital input to make strategic decisions in the territories. Thanks to this data, we can guide policies, anticipate warnings, and strengthen urban and rural food security. The sustained increase in the supply of food is good news for the country, especially in highly sensitive contexts such as the current one,” said Dora Inés Rey, director of the Rural Agricultural Planning Unit (UPRA).

In specific foods, significant increases were highlighted in products such as tangerine, pineapple, blackberry, cucumber, beans, and potatoes. On the other hand, some products, such as mangoes, lemons, papayas, and pumpkins showed occasional decreases, reflecting seasonal behaviors or adjustments in production dynamics.

From the UPRA, it is projected that in July and August a positive supply will continue with products such as sapote, tangerine, pear, kiwi, banana, arracacha, cassava, broccoli, chili pepper, coriander and eggplant, among others, strengthening access to varied foods of national origin in the country’s markets.

Fish at the market. Photo credit: photo-graphe from Pixabay.

The prices of products such as carrots, beets, junca and bighead onions, broccoli, and green beans in pods increased by more than 10% driven by a lower supply from key regions such as Cundinamarca, Antioquia, Boyacá, and Nariño. In contrast, products such as cucumber, chocolo (corn), tomatoes, and green beans registered decreases, in some cases also greater than 10%.

In the group of fresh fruits, the price falls in mandarins, lemons, guava, oranges, pineapples, avocados, apples, soursops (guanabana), and bananas stood out. However, some tropical fruits such as tree tomatoes (tomatos de arból), mangoes, and passion fruit showed considerable increases, as did grapes, melons, and dragon fruits (pitaya).

“These price fluctuations respond to both climatic conditions and natural production cycles, which forces us to continue strengthening agricultural planning with data. We continue to advance in tools to anticipate these variations and better guide production and marketing in the territories,” said Dora Inés Rey, director of the UPRA.

In tubers, decreases were recorded in the native and black potato varieties, as well as in the arracacha. However, products such as bananas, yams, and cassava reported moderate increases, in line with their seasonal behavior. In meat, the prices of several cuts of beef, fish, and chicken increased slightly, while Dora Inés Rey presented a generalized, although moderate, reduction.

The behavior of egg prices was on the rise in all categories, and the same happened with artisanal cheeses. In grains and cereals, decreases were observed in products such as yellow corn and imported lentils, while beans such as red cargo and radical increased their price. Finally, among processed foods, increases were recorded in sugar, coffee, chocolates, and refined oils; while decreases were observed in flours, pastes, and mixed vegetable oils.

Pork. Photo credit: ludiarin from Pixabay.

This positive performance was reflected in 16 of the 23 cities with reference wholesale markets, with especially notable increases in Tibasosa (67.8%), Manizales (29.2%), Villavicencio (15.3%), Armenia (12.5%), Medellín (11.3%), and Bogotá (8.4%). Although there were reductions in some points, such as Ipiales (-25.4%) and Santa Marta (-22.8%), the national balance was largely positive.

By food groups, the greatest dynamism was in processed foods (15.3%), grains and cereals (12.8%), fish (10.2%), dairy products and eggs (9.2%) and tubers, roots and bananas (7.0%). Fruit (5.9%) and vegetables (4.4%) also increased. Only the meat group showed a slight decrease (-1.7%).

“This data confirms that the countryside is responding to the country’s food demand. To plan efficiently, we need to know what is coming, from where, and in what quantities. Technical monitoring of supply is key to guaranteeing food security and guiding production from rural territories,” said Dora Inés Rey, director of the UPRA.

In the group of vegetables, 180,620 tons entered, with outstanding behaviors in the supply of beans (33.9%), corn (32%), celery (19.4%), garlic (18.8%), cucumber (17%) and peppers (16.2%). Increases were also reported in carrots, onions, beans and other vegetables. On the other hand, the entry of green peas, cabbage, tomatoes, onions, pumpkins and lettuce decreased.
In the case of Cali, one of the main receiving cities, 42% of the volume of vegetables came from Valle del Cauca, followed by Nariño (22.8%), Bogotá (16.3%), Boyacá (14.3%) and Cauca (2%), evidencing the articulation between producing regions and urban markets.

Onions. Photo credit: moviedo from Pixabay.

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.

The prices of fresh fruits fell in products such as common mango, papaya, oranges, and pineapples. However, Tahiti lemons, mandarins, and avocados rose more than 10%, driven by a reduction in their supply due to adverse weather factors. The tubers and roots group also reported a reduction in the prices of yellow and white arracacha, as well as in bananas and cumin. Despite this, black potatoes, creole potatoes, plantains, and cassava experienced increases in their prices, especially highlighting the different varieties of black potatoes and cassava.

“Price fluctuations in wholesale markets reflect both seasonal conditions and variations in product supply. These changes are a reminder of the importance of monitoring the food market to ensure stability and access to fresh and nutritious products,” explained Dora Inés Rey, acting director of the UPRA.

In meat, pork prices fell in several cuts, while beef and chicken registered moderate increases. For their part, artisanal cheeses also had increases in their prices.

On the other hand, vegetable prices showed increases of more than 10% in products such as white onions, tomatoes, carrots, broccoli and junca onions; affected by the lower supply in the harvests due to rains in the main producing regions. The white-headed onion registered an increase of more than 10% due to the reduction in the harvests of Boyacá, Nariño and Cundinamarca.

Farmers holding Pineapples. Photo credit: 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.

In general, by food group, the supply of meat (+4.7%), fish (+3.8%), processed foods (+3.8%), and vegetables (+1.6%) increased. At the same time, a reduction was observed in grains and cereals (-5.1%), tubers, roots, and bananas (-3.2%), and fruits (-1.1%), key sectors for the basic diet of Colombians.

Relevant figures

• Tubers and roots: although products such as ginger (+216.6%) and yams (+24.6%) increased their supply, potatoes, one of the most consumed foods, registered a decrease of 4.4%.
•  Fruit: avocado (+36.9%) and mango (+22.2%) stood out with significant increases, while essential fruits, such as oranges (-28.4%) and tree tomatoes (-16.5%) decreased.
•  Vegetables: beets (+17.7%) and onions (+11.5%) showed a greater supply, unlike products such as beans (-12.5%) and carrots (-5.6%).

Dora Inés Rey Martínez, acting director of the Rural Agricultural Planning Unit (UPRA), highlighted the importance of monitoring supply behavior to ensure the country’s food security: “Stability in the food supply is essential for Colombia’s food security. Efforts must strengthen the production and logistics of basic foodstuffs, ensuring that they arrive constantly and affordably on the tables of all Colombians.”

“The UPRA reaffirms its commitment to the development of public policies that ensure the sustainability of agri-food production, promote crop diversity, and guarantee constant supply throughout the national territory,” she added in a statement.

Photo credit: Colombia’s Rural Agricultural Planning Unit (UPRA)

]]> https://www.financecolombia.com/colombian-agricultural-product-prices-see-significant-declines-in-august/ Tue, 24 Sep 2024 18:11:45 +0000 https://www.financecolombia.com/?p=31013 Prices for key agricultural products in Colombia dropped significantly in August, according to the latest Wholesale Price Bulletin released by the Unidad de Planificación Rural Agropecuaria (UPRA). The report noted that several staple items, including vegetables, tubers, eggs, and artisanal cheeses, saw price reductions, while fresh fruits experienced price hikes.

Notable decreases include:

• Price drops exceeding 20% for key items such as white and red onions, bell peppers, green peas, and green beans.
• A 10% decrease in prices for all varieties of potatoes, reversing a trend of sustained increases seen in previous months.

Conversely, prices for several fresh fruits, including mangoes, avocados, Tahiti limes, mandarins, grapes, papayas, and pineapples, saw increases of more than 10%.

Pork prices, as well as those for artisanal cheeses and eggs, also declined, offering some relief for consumers. Meanwhile, prices for beef and chicken rose slightly, with fresh whole chicken prices increasing by 1%.

These price fluctuations are largely attributed to an increase in supply due to harvests in regions such as Norte de Santander, Huila, and Antioquia, as well as weather conditions affecting fresh food production.

“The data this month highlights the importance of monitoring wholesale markets to better understand the dynamics impacting Colombian households,” said Dora Inés Rey, Director of UPRA. “We continue to work on providing timely information to help both producers and consumers make strategic decisions in response to market fluctuations.”

In the vegetable and tuber categories, essential products like carrots, green beans, and corn saw significant price reductions. However, cucumbers, beets, and scallions recorded price increases. Most potato varieties, yams, and Hartón plantains experienced price drops.

For fresh fruits, while items like mangoes and avocados became more expensive, other fruits such as Castilian blackberries, tree tomatoes, and lulo saw price decreases.

These shifts reflect broader trends in the Colombian agricultural sector, driven by both regional harvests and environmental factors.