The Latin American air freight market, valued at $1.04 billion USD in 2025, is projected to experience sustained growth, driven by expanding e-commerce, increasing cross-border trade, including inter-Latin American trade. Key growth drivers include the rising demand for more reliable and quick turnaround delivery services, particularly for perishable goods and high-value products.

Global air cargo demand rose by 3.4% in 2025 compared with the previous year, according to data released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

At the same time, total capacity, measured in available cargo ton-kilometers (ACTK), increased by 3.7% year on year. For international operations, demand rose by 4.2%, while capacity increased by 5.1%.

Latin America Air Freight Industry Concentration & Characteristics

The Latin American air freight industry has been defined by a moderate level of concentration, with a few large global players dominating but now also including several significant regional carriers. While FedEx, UPS, and DHL hold substantial market share, particularly in international freight, regional players like LATAM Cargo, Avianca Cargo (Tampa Air), and Aeromexico maintain strong positions in domestic and regional routes.

Other leading players in the Latin American airfreight industry include IAG Cargo (UK), Copa Airlines (Panama), American Airlines, Delta Airlines, Azul Cargo Express (Brazil) and Emirates Skycargo.

Nicholas Sutherland’s opinions and claims are his own, and not necessarily those of Finance Colombia.

Regional Growth Drivers

• E-commerce explosion – Same-day and next-day service expectations are migrating south, driving express integrators to expand cargo terminals in Latin America and sign block-space agreements with regional carriers.
• Perishables dominance – Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Chile collectively ship more than 1.5 million tons of flowers, fruit, seafood, and pharma each year—commodities that depend on airport infrastructure for freight with reliable 2-8 °C corridors.
• Pharmaceuticals – Colombia, Mexico and Brazil stand out as not only having large national companies, but also some of the largest pharma companies in the world have factories in these countries.

Electronics, jewelry, auto parts, specialized machine parts, and high-value textiles are also driving increased traffic.

Latin America’s Hub Status

For years, Latin America has been spoken of primarily as a supplier, a hub for perishables, electronics, and auto parts feeding the U.S. and Europe. Fast forward to 2025 and something is unmistakably clear: the region is no longer merely sourcing for the world. It is becoming one of the most strategically viable air cargo growth engines, driven by nearshoring, rising consumer markets, and accelerated infrastructure investment.

Leading Locations

Mexico

 Since 2023 the Felipe Ángeles International Airport, also within the Greater Metropolitan Area of Mexico City, has now surpassed the Benito Juarez airport for air cargo with 2025 figures showing 413,224 metric tons in air cargo traffic.

The International Airport of Mexico City, known officially as Benito Juárez International Airport, stands out as the largest airport in the country and is now the second busiest air cargo hub in Mexico and number three in the LATAM region. The figures underline the importance of this hub. In January 2022, the air terminal managed a total of 41,650 tons. In 2023, this number rose to 47,206.8 tons, reflecting an important increase of 5,556.8 tons. It is important to mention that this airport also acts as a center of operations and connections (HUB) for the Mexican airline Aeroméxico, further strengthening its strategic position in the airport and logistics scenario in the region.

The International Airport of Cancun (CUN), located in the Mexican Caribbean, is a major hub in cargo handling in Latin America. With leading-edge facilities and advanced systems for the processing of goods, the airport handles a diversity of products, including consumer goods, textiles, electronic parts and pharmaceutical products. Its strategic location makes it crucial for trade routes between North America, Latin America and Europe and it has undergone constant growth in its volume of cargo.

Colombia

El Dorado International Airport is in Colombia’s capital city, Bogotá, and stands out as the third most important airport in Latin America in terms of freight volume. It registered a 2024 throughput of 809,00 tons, with flowers, perishables and pharma being the main categories.

Colombia has consolidated its position as a world leader in the export of a wide range of products, including products derived from agriculture, foodstuffs and chemical products. The airport has also been consolidated as the center of strategic operations (HUB) for international airline, Avianca.

Two 3,800 m runways at 8,360 ft elevation make BOG a purpose-built wide-body freighter hub. Cargo airlines position here to bridge east-west schedules across the Caribbean, giving forwarders same-night connections into MIA, AMS, and DOH.

Panama

Tocumen International Airport (PTY), Panamá City handled 216,653 tons in 2024 (a 4% increase over 2023). PTY sits astride the Colón Free Zone and the Panamá Canal rail link; a third runway is budgeted for development in 2027 to future-proof capacity.

A new development project called “Tocumen Cargo City”, with an area of 124 hectares, which includes the concession for the development of the cargo terminal and logistics zone, was announced in 2024. This project will take advantage of Tocumen’s competitive advantages as the region’s main air hub that connects daily more than 80 commercial destinations, and more than 50 air cargo destinations integrating a multimodal axis with the country’s maritime and land transport operations,

 Peru

Jorge Chávez International Airport is in the region of Callao, outside of the metropolitan area of Lima (Peru). It stands out as the center of operations and connections for LATAM Airlines.

In 2023 the airport handled 230,993 tons of air freight. The largest quantities of air export products were fresh asparagus, blueberries, salmon and other seafood. In 2024, the airport also added another runway and a new passenger terminal with an adjoining logistics park.

Brazil

São Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) had a throughput of 235,600 tons in 2024. Air-sea multimodality is boosted by a 90-minute drive to the Port of Santos. Automotive, machinery, pharma cold-chain (largest airport cool-store in Brazil) are the highest categories of products.

Campinas Viracopos (VCP) airport, in Sao Paulo state (not the city) handles roughly one-third of Brazil’s imported air freight and was voted 2024 Cargo Airport of the Year by routesonline.com . It boasts a 90,000 m² cargo terminal with 11 dedicated cold rooms and a live-animal zone.

 Looking Forward

Governments are aware that there is now fierce rivalry to attract air cargo logistics operations and several have identified the sector as a key segment which would improve the competitiveness of their economies and stimulate economic growth and create skilled employment opportunities. Integration of air cargo, ports, incentives and free zones have become a cornerstone for attracting logistics and manufacturing companies.

Cargo airports in Latin America are writing the next chapter in hemispheric logistics. For independent freight forwarders, and other investors, these hubs are not just transit points, they are strategic pivot points to shorten lead times, diversify modal risk, and command premium margins in niche verticals. Airports are emerging as focal points in this new logistics landscape. Policy support, geography, and international partnerships are essential to attracting international operators and service providers.

Several countries have made successful initiatives to increase investment in the multimodal logistics space including the Dominican Republic, El Salvador (with a focus on increasing Maintenance Repair and Overhaul operations) Ecuador and La Aurora International Airport in Guatemala becoming a major hub, with LAATS, a Guatemalan logistics and freight company, managing all regular cargo flights there.

Attracting Investment in the Caribbean

For countries in the Caribbean to consider becoming air cargo logistics locations, they require international operators to view them as viable long-term locations, therefore several factors need to be considered.

Cold-Chain certification is a cornerstone for diversified airfreight operations. Pharma shippers demand IATA CEIV or WHO GDP accreditation. GRU, VCP, and LIM all hold multiple certifications, allowing forwarders to move temperature-controlled cargo without auxiliary containers significant cost saving.

Customs & Free-Zone Synergy have been the defining characteristics of a country’s success. Many airports interface directly with bonded zones or inland ports. Panama’s Tocumen International Airport’s on-airport logistics park and Panama Pacifico free zone cut transfer times by 24 hours compared with off-site warehousing.

Customs Harmonization and Focused Incentives

Caribbean countries must consider integration of the electronic DUCA-F, a fundamental document for the export of products originating in a Central American country to other countries in the region, within the framework of current trade agreements. It integrates and connects the customs systems of the six countries that make up the Central American region. This interconnection significantly improves customs controls, allowing for the automatic validation of declared data and real-time verification of approvals issued by the single windows and customs authorities of each country.

Airports may waive or discount landing fees for 1–2 years to attract new carriers or new routes. Sao Paulo’s Viracopos International Airport in Brazil runs an incentive program for cargo carriers as it looks to strengthen international hub’s cargo activities. The program aims to develop Viracopos as an international cargo hub, and the gateway’s operator – Aeroportos Brasil Viracopos – wants to increase the number of international flight routes and cargo frequencies. Some of these incentives include 100% exemption of landing fees for operations at the airport’s cargo terminal for the first 24 months of a carrier’s cargo operation.

Like landing fees, building rents can be discounted for air cargo carriers. For example, St. Louis International Airport offers 18 months of waived terminal building rents and landing fees for new transoceanic service and related logistics. Income tax exemptions for the first four (4) years of operation and reduced tax rates (sub 10%) for air cargo-related logistics operations are other ways to compete with nearshore rival locations. Income tax exemptions on rental for developers are essential for infrastructure development. These exemptions can be for twenty years, combined with a reduced tax rate for the following years.

Several Caribbean countries have declared intentions to compete for investment in air logistics, however very few (except for the Dominican Republic) have made it a priority with an accompanying tactical and focused execution plan. Caribbean countries who wish to position themselves as an air cargo hub need to have feasibility studies done by internationally recognized logistics companies along with a well-defined plan for what reasonable short-term and long-term success looks like. It’s also essential to have a realistic outlook of what each country can offer, rival strengths and incentives and a clear understanding of any deficiencies which may pose headwinds to their stated goals.

At the 2025 Colombia Gold Summit, Finance Colombia Executive Editor Loren Moss spoke with Daniel Giraldo, a Managing Director at FTI Consulting (NYSE: FCN), a global business advisory firm specializing in cross-border investment and corporate finance. Giraldo offered his perspective on the geopolitical chessboard, examining what Colombia’s recent decision to join the Belt and Road Initiative means for its future relationship with its largest long-standing ally, the United States.

Finance Colombia: I’m here with Daniel Giraldo of FTI Consulting. So we’re here at the 2025 CGS, Colombia Gold Summit, where we also talk about other precious metals, we talk about silver, we also talk about metals like copper, molybdenum, things like that. You gave an interesting talk yesterday, I don’t want to steal your thunder. Why don’t you summarize your discussion?

Daniel Giraldo: Well, if I could summarize my lecture yesterday, I think there’s a chessboard, a giant global chessboard right now. And there are two main players: US and China. And Colombia is one key figure, a key part of this chessboard. Right now, Colombia is in a key position with lots of opportunities between Chinese investment and the US investment. However, which decisions Colombia takes right now will shift the entire game for the coming years.

Finance Colombia: So we are in the last few months of a government that has been relatively friendly or biased towards China. And hostile might be too strong of a word, but relatively cold towards the United States, talking about the Petro government. Colombia, under Petro, just signed up for the Belt and Road Initiative. What is the significance of that for Colombia, not just in its relationship with the United States, but what does that do or change for Colombia?

Daniel Giraldo: Well, what we are seeing right now is that Colombia signed formally the Belt and Road Initiative earlier this year. And there’s been a lot of tensions with the Trump government. At the same time, the US is the main investor in Colombia. And what we’re seeing is how China, through different initiatives, wants to have a bigger long-term influence in the region. And Colombia is, in a soft way, saying, “We want that for us.” However, that’s not a shift that can be made automatically. That’s not made in a single signature by one president. It takes years and years to forge a relationship. And although the government of Petro, President Petro is showing how they’re very interested in the Chinese investment, and to have a strong relationship with the Chinese government, it’s not the way, to just step out of their major alliances throughout years with the US

Finance Colombia: The way that investment is done in China is fundamentally different than the way investment is done from places like the US or Canada or many European countries. In the US, if you’re going to attract investment in Colombia, it’s going to be with some company. And that company is going to do what it wants to do within the law but not really giving a damn about what Washington says or what Washington wants or what Ottawa says or wants. Whereas in China, it’s very much a government-to-government thing. You have state-owned enterprises, and Xi Jinping or the Communist Party says, “we’re going to invest in this,” whether it’s profitable or not, for whatever kind of geopolitical reasons that they want to do things. So it’s a fundamentally different thing.

If you do a deal with a company in the US, you’re doing a deal with that company. Now, yes, you have to make sure that regulatory things go through. Trump is a little bit more of a patronage type of president where he wants to get involved with things so he can find benefit for himself or his administration. But generally speaking, even still, if we look at investors, if you’re going to bring in someone to invest in one of these mining companies here or exploration, it’s a company. In China, it’s going to be a state-backed company. Now, what does that imply, then, for the way business would be done going forward, number one? And number two, Petro’s on his way out, and maybe there will be another left-wing government to continue his project, it doesn’t look like it at this point. But do you see continuity in that affinity or that participation in the Belt and Road Initiative? Like you mentioned, it’s not a treaty, it’s more of like a memorandum of understanding, like the diplomats like to call it. But what do you foresee over the next two or three years?

Daniel Giraldo: Yeah, I believe every tactic has been launched in a very moderate way somehow. So, of course, Belt and Road is just a framework, and every project that could be contemplated by Chinese government, depending on the feasibility of each one of these projects. So they’re not basically getting married yet, they’re just dating.

They’re just on their first dates. However, we’re married to the US We’ve had a long-standing marriage, and what we are seeing right now is that how investment works for both countries is different. However, for both countries, there are more and more, basically, things they require to be approved.

So in order to achieve this, the US is not being indirect about it. They require trusted partners. They require trusted allies, which get what’s at stake right now. So, Petro’s government has one year left. We are expecting a shift. However, even if Colombia gets a left-wing government or a right-wing government, it doesn’t change the fact that investment in the latest years has been in a rough place.

So Colombia requires this investment, and the country requires a very stable policy framework, regulatory framework, legal framework, in order to get investors feeling safer, with more appeal. And, yes, of course, it’s not the same as an SOE (State Owned Enterprise) Chinese company that wants to invest, that needs the approval of Beijing and all this. In contrast, we have the US. Of course, Washington can say whatever they want. They can say Petro is now on the Clinton list, and they can sanction him personally. But a company, a US company, can still invest here; it changes how they see Colombia in the long run.

Finance Colombia: I think one of the things that is very notable is that the Trump government sanctioned Petro, his son, his wife, and his interior minister personally, rather than imposing sanctions on the country or doing, like, I don’t know, tariff things. Actually, by the time we publish the video, we might know what happens, but right before the Supreme Court right now, actually as we speak, there is a challenge to Trump’s ability to circumvent congressional law. And so if we have a trade pact, like free trade agreement or something like that, a lot of businesses in the US have challenged Trump’s ability to just… you can’t just cancel a law. Congress passed a law, and it’s in effect, and you can’t just cancel it. Well, that’s what they’re arguing. And all of these kind of unilateral, discretionary tariff moves that affect entire economies and entire industries, there’s some uncertainty that is going to be settled there.

“However, we’re married to the US We’ve had a long-standing marriage, and what we are seeing right now is that how investment works for both countries is different.” – Daniel Giraldo

But it’s interesting because it seems that with them sanctioning Petro and Benedetti directly as individuals, they’re saying that they want to maintain some predictability and constancy in the bilateral economic relationship with Colombia. And I think that there have been a lot of missions. Fico, the mayor here in Medellin, some of the other mayors and Colombian congressional people have visited Washington and met with senators and met with people in the State Department and said, “Look, you know, we disagree with what the president’s doing. Wait a few months.” And it seems like Washington has heard that and is not acting too rashly towards Colombia as a country but rather decided to take their ire out directly on the president and his consigliere Armando Benedetti.

Daniel Giraldo: What I believe of this is that Trump’s government can say like, “We’re not afraid. We are not afraid of imposing sanctions. We’re not afraid of not conducting business in the way we used to do it anymore.” And it’s been shown, for example, in the relationship with China, for example, with the Chinese government, with Xi Jinping. And there’s been like an escalation of tariffs, for example, I think up to 130%. I can’t remember the exact number. And then last week they say, “let’s stop this. Let’s trade the sequels.” And it’s also their way of showing the carrot and then showing the mace or bat, this metaphor.

Finance Colombia: Yeah, the stick.

Daniel Giraldo: And with Colombia, I believe it is the same. It’s like we could, if we wanted, to give some sanctions and they will have great consequences in terms of our bilateral trade. However, they’re aware of their position. They’re our main investor. We have a very good relationship in bilateral trade. There’s been years and there’s been decades of both countries benefiting from each other. We have a great position in one of the closest countries to enter South America. And they know this government is just ending. So why would they give us, like give the left-wing parties an opportunity to just bash them and say, “Oh, Trump’s government can’t be trusted.” Whereas if you take another position and say, “Look, this is personal, this is just these individuals, not the whole country.” You still have ground to negotiate, to renegotiate, to benefit. So I believe it is quite tactical.

Finance Colombia: Another thing that you mentioned is the difference on the ground. When you look at, for example, if we talk about the mining sector, not just on the ground, but literally in the ground, the US right now, the Trump administration, and really just the US more broadly, is very concerned about rare earths. And Colombia, even though there’s not yet a lot of mining activity, Colombia does have rare earth potential. There’s already been illegal coltan, cobalt ore mining taking place down in the Amazon, things like that. But it would seem that further damaging relationships with Colombia right now would contravene the political strategy in the US to strengthen its rare earth mineral supply chain.

Daniel Giraldo: Yes, it is completely true. The US has shown how important it is for them to be less dependent on the supply chains of the Chinese government, specifically in terms of their rare earths and critical minerals refining processes. So the US has been in recent weeks signing lots of memorandums of understanding and bilateral agreements with Australia, with Japan, with Malaysia, with Thailand. And they already have very good deals with Argentina, with the Mineral Security Partnership, for example, Mexico, Peru, Argentina. And the Dominican Republic. And Colombia could be in the radar as well. And what Colombia requires to be here and to benefit with the US as well is just to be patient, to get the best and the highest standards of ESG, and to reassure the different governments that it is safe to trade minerals with Colombia. That if they purchase Colombian minerals, they explore the region and they trade with us, they will find quality, they will find high standards of minerals, without assuming lots of risks that these markets don’t want to assess anymore.

Finance Colombia: So longer term, looking out three to five years, are you optimistic or pessimistic about the bilateral relationship between the US and Colombia?

Daniel Giraldo: I feel optimistic, not only because it’s the most comfortable answer, but I do feel optimistic because I believe there is a lot of potential. And right now, the sector is not in its best place. But I believe that sometimes you just have to grit your teeth, take the punch, and then stand up again and do everything that’s in your power to just become better. And Colombia has a history of learning, and the sector will learn as well how to be more competent, how to attract investors, and how to get to the highest standard and quality of their bilateral trade with different countries.

Finance Colombia: Great. Well, Daniel Giraldo from FTI Consulting, you guys are one of the leading strategic consulting firms globally, especially when you look at things like cross-border investment. That seems to be your strong suit, even though you guys are a large firm and you guys do a lot of different things. Always great to see your presence here at CGS, at Colombia Gold Summit. And thanks for your insights.

Daniel Giraldo: It’s a pleasure, thanks for having me.

In this way, the FILBo invites us to think of the body not only as biological matter but as a symbolic space where identity, memory, and resistance converge. For this reason, the Fair’s programming will explore corporeality from literature, science, art, philosophy, and politics. Thus, visitors will be able to approach this theme from various perspectives, such as the female experience, sexual diversity, disability, violence, equity, thought, time, migration, and pleasure, among others.

In this regard, Adriana Ángel Forero, director of the Fair on behalf of the CCL, says that: “the body is the first territory we inhabit, but we rarely stop to explore it in its complexity. At FILBo 2025, we want literature to help us understand it beyond the biological: as a space of memory, identity, and resistance. From science to poetry, the body is the meeting point of our emotions, experiences, and social transformations. In times when questions about our materiality are more urgent than ever, the FILBo will be the stage to reflect on what it means to exist, feel, and share from the body and the word.”

For her part, Catalina Chávez, director of the FILBo on behalf of Corferias, says: “We are proud of the theme of the FILBo this year and we are excited about the arrival of Spain as the guest of honor, as it promises a journey through centuries of literature, thought and culture, in an enriching dialogue with Colombia. This will be a unique opportunity for writers and readers to explore together the connections that unite us at Corferias, a unique place that is an icon of the movement and growth of the publishing industry every year.”

Filbo 2025

First authors announced

The FILBo 2025 will feature the participation of literary figures of national and international stature, such as the renowned writer Laura Restrepo (Colombia), who has masterfully narrated the darkest and brightest corners of the human experience; Yolanda Arroyo Pizarro (Puerto Rico), outstanding novelist and essayist for her works on migration and feminism in the Caribbean.

There will also be the Argentinean Andrés Neuman, poet, narrator and translator, winner of the Alfaguara Prize; from South Korea will come Kim Un-su, author of The Planners, a literary thriller of the Korean crime novel, translated into multiple languages and adapted to the cinema.

Also present will be Arianna de Sousa-García (Venezuela), writer of Atrás queda la tierra, her first narrative work, which is a moving non-fiction novel about the Venezuelan diaspora, the pain caused by dispossession and violence.

Fritz Breithaupt will arrive from Germany with his essay The Narrative Brain explores the impact of stories on society; María Cecilia Barbetta (German-Argentine), winner of several awards in Germany, including the Alfred Döblin scholarship, the Aspekte-Literaturpreis prize, the Chamisso/Hellerau prize; also from the Old Continent the Swiss writer and translator Dorothée Elmiger, Swiss Prize for Literature, will participate.

Connecting visitors with the Caribbean, the Fair will have Frank Báez (Dominican Republic), poet and narrator, creator of the spoken word collective “El Hombrecito”. Traveling to the south of the continent, the Uruguayan Mabel Moraña will talk about corporeality and desire, themes that she has worked on in books such as Pensar el cuerpo. Currently, she is director of the Latin American Studies Program at Washington University in Saint Louis where she teaches courses on viceregal studies to the present day, focusing on the baroque, nationalism and modernity.

And in the Children’s and Young People’s Literature slot, the Bogota International Book Fair will have authors such as: Elise Kova (USA), outstanding because its narrative escapes the usual sensuality, focusing on the emotional growth of its characters and who wrote the bestseller A Duel with the Lord of the Vampires; Susanna Mattiangeli (Italy), 2018 Andersen Award for Best Writer of the Year, the most prestigious literary award in Italy, creator of Crescendo, the story of Milo, a deaf boy, in a village without music and how he discovers it when it returns to his village; Maikel Rodríguez (Cuba), outstanding writer of children’s and young people’s literature, multi-awarded for his horror works, Romance de la Niña Mala Award for his literary career; and Luis Pescetti (Argentina) Latin Grammy for Best Children’s Music Album, ALIJA Award (IBBY Argentina) and Caniem Award for his book Cartas al Rey de la cabina. He will present at FILBo his book, Emotional First Aid Kit for Humans and Superheroes: The Right to Know That We Are Not What We Feel.

Spain, a literary bridge

This year, Spain will be the guest of honor and will arrive with the proposal ‘A culture for peace, with others and with the planet’, the slogan of the program organized by the Ministry of Culture of the Government of Spain and Acción Cultural Española (AC/E). Thus, the Iberian nation responds to the invitation of the Fair with another invitation: to generate a meeting space that has books at its center, a place of knowledge and imagination, an agora for dialogue about the issues that concern citizens today.

In this regard, Antonio Monegal, National Essay Prize 2023, curator appointed by Spain, through its Ministry of Culture and AC/E, for participation in the FILBo 2025, comments that: “it is not a conversation only between Colombia and Spain but between all the countries that share common languages, literary traditions, cultural spaces and history. As in any conversation, each one contributes their experiences, their imaginaries, their memory, from different perspectives of each country. In this dialogue, books are our allies and friends, but they are also indispensable instruments of change. They help us to face the problems of the world, to understand what is happening, to get closer to the experience of others, to learn empathy, to imagine solutions.”

Monegal adds: “Books are also the repositories of memory: they invite us to look back to look to the future. Peace is not reduced to the absence of war, to a truce between violence. Peace is also a desire for understanding, a willingness to negotiate differences and disagreements, a horizon of aspiration to coexistence and a commitment to care for the natural environment that we share.”

Some of the writers with a great impact on narrative, poetry, and essays that Spain will bring, reflecting the diversity that characterizes its current literature, are: Marta Sanz (Madrid), Herralde Novel Prize winner and finalist for the Nadal Prize, whose work investigates memory and identity with incisive prose. Clara Usón (Barcelona), author of La hija del Este, winner of the National Critics’ Prize; her most recent novel, Las fieras, explores a generation marked by violence and political conflict. Francesc Serés (Zaidín, Huesca), Aragonese writer in Catalan, winner of the National Prize for Literature of Catalonia; Ismael Ramos (Mazaricos, La Coruña), one of the emerging voices of Spanish poetry due to the power of his reflections on identity and language; and Leire Bilbao (Ondárroa, Vizcaya), a poet in Basque, whose work rescues Basque orality with a contemporary look.

A platform to connect businesses and industry experts

The Fair reaffirms its role as the epicenter of the publishing business in Latin America during the first half of the year, with the Professional Conferences that include key spaces to strengthen the book industry. In terms of business, there is the International Business Show, the FellowShip Program, and the Librarians’ Mission, which, together with 12 specialized conferences aimed at all the actors in the book chain, make the FILBo the central stage of the industry in the first half of the year.

One of these spaces is the International Business Show, a strategic meeting where publishers, literary agents, and distributors from all over the world will meet to finalize agreements for the purchase and sale of books, as well as publishing and translation rights, promoting the circulation of content at a global level. This commitment energizes the publishing market, facilitating strategic connections and new commercial opportunities for professionals in the sector.

In addition, the Fair will offer two scenarios designed to expand access to Colombian literature, such as the Fellowship Program, which invites seven international literary agents interested in enriching their catalogs with national editorial production.

They are Rory Williamson (United Kingdom), editor at Pushkin Press, where he publishes fiction and non-fiction; Baha Sonmez (Turkey), general manager of Redhouse and board member of the Turkish Publishers Association; Majid Jafari Aghdam (Iran), CEO of Pol Yainci, combines his experience as an editor, translator, writer and poet; Niyazi Khidirov (Azerbaijan), international rights manager at Libra Kitab, a publisher specializing in children’s literature; Massimiliano Bonatto (Italy), editor of Spanish and Latin American literature at Polidoro; Corinna Santa Cruz (Germany), editor at Buechergilde Gutenberg and specialist in Latin American and Spanish literature; and Benjamin Burguete (France), art historian and philosopher in Paris.

And the Librarians’ Mission, which will allow librarians from various regions to strengthen their collections through specialized advice and purchasing spaces, ensuring that more readers have access to a diverse and up-to-date offer.

Within the specialized Conferences are the Book Forums, which allow the exchange of ideas and experiences between the actors of the publishing world. This year, the Book Forums Master Classes will also be strengthened, an initiative that was born in 2024 and has been vital in offering practical learning to professionals in the sector. And for librarians, the Fair has the International Meeting of Librarians, an event designed to discuss the challenges and opportunities in the management and promotion of reading, strengthening their role as essential mediators between books and the community.

In addition to this, the International Meeting of Booksellers will be held again so that these important actors in the book chain can share strategies and challenges of the sector. For its part, the Books for Children and Young People Meeting will bring together publishers specialized in children’s and young people’s literature to discuss trends and opportunities. Also, translation and illustration will have their space with the Forum of Literary and Editorial Translation, the Forum of Comic Professionals, FILBo Ilustra-Ilustropía and the long-awaited portfolio review, where Colombian illustrators will be able to present their work to publishers.

The FILBo will be a meeting point for industry leaders with the Book Fairs Network Meeting, the National Meeting of Proofreaders and FILBo Emprende, which will promote publishing ventures with training and commercial exhibition. The International Copyright Seminar will open a key space for debate on the protection of works, while the FILBo Ilustra Master Classes will bring the best artists closer to the community. Finally, the BAM Film Adaptations of Literary Works will bring together publishers and filmmakers to explore the potential of books on the big screen.

The rationale or excuse is the uncertain fiscal situation as the authorities struggle to balance the books, and also this week’s developments with the USA. It’s a tough call as the fiscal situation has been a constant for the past year and the fact that the Peso closed Thursday at $4170, its strongest in several months, suggests fears related to Donald Trump, shared by half the world, are overstated.

For the Central Bank, this will be the last meeting before two governors are replaced by Petro’s picks – the February meeting will arguably draw a lot of attention for that reason.

Petro’s perceived belligerence at the beginning of the week when dealing with the treatment of returning Colombian migrants, is now being viewed as a reasonable humanitarian request. It will hopefully embolden other Latam countries to demand the same basic respect from the USA.

November imports from Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística – DANE Colombia rose 13.7% to $5.8bn, more evidence of a recovering economy however with exports still struggling somewhat, the YTD deficit now stands at $9.9bn, higher even than the $9.1bn for the first 11 months of 2023. Exports at least are being helped by coffee, with new record high prices this week.

Catatumbo remains a mess on the Venezuelan border and the government is still struggling to wrangle control back from the ELN and FARC, who are fighting over this lucrative cocaine route.

About it for this Friday, have a wonderful day.

Regards.

Roops.

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Headline Image: Coffee beans from Don Elias finca in Salento, Colombia. (Credit: Jared Wade)

She was released from her duties at DAPRE on January 20, when the government announced Jorge Rojas, previously deputy foreign minister, would be the new head of this office. The office of the Presidency announced her appointment as the new Foreign Minister the next day. Her responsibilities will officially begin on February 1st, but she is already working with the outgoing Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo to facilitate a smooth transition.

Murillo resigned in time to meet the legal requirements to run for political office in the next presidential election.

Murillo who has been dealing with exigencies like the passport printing contract scandal that removed former Foreign Minister Alvaro Leyva, the tense relations with Israel after the Gaza Strip conflict began, and the decisions of the UK and Germany to reimpose visa obligations for Colombians due to abuses of the asylum process, resigned and will leave office next Friday—ostensibly to return to academia. It should be noted however, that Murillo, a former presidential candidate who ran against Petro, resigned in time to meet the legal requirements to run for political office in the next presidential election.

Sarabia has been an important figure in Petro’s government for the last two years serving as a key communication link between ministers and the president. Her position as Petro’s right hand of the President put her into the public eye in May 2023 when a bag with a large amount of money disappeared from her residence. She accused her domestic employee, Merelbys Meza, of taking the money and allegedly forced her to take a polygraph test, This is an open investigation that precipitated her removal from government for seven months, until she returned as the head of the DAPRE.

Her new position will come with some challenges. One of the first tasks she will have is to address the situation created the past Sunday between Petro and the United States President Donald Trump, after Petro denied the entry of two flights bringing back deportees from the US. The initial response from Washington was a package of sanctions against Colombian officials and increasing the tariffs to 50% for Colombian exports, Later the same day, the sanctions were reversed after Petro agreed to Trump’s demands, however, Sarabia will have to carefully manage the diplomatic fallout from the crisis.

Sarabia will also focus her attention on the relationship with Latin America and the Caribbean, as President Petro proposes a unified position from the region against the political decisions made by Washington.

Headline photo: DAPRE Director Laura Sarabia is appointed as new Colombian Chancellor (Source: DAPRE official website)

Demand for Colombian non-mining products has fluctuated across international markets, but exports to key partners like the United States, Mexico, and Venezuela have shown notable increases. Exports to the United States rose by 8.6%, while Mexico and Venezuela saw increases of 22.5% and 47.4%, respectively. Other markets also saw growth, with exports to Belgium increasing by 33.7% and the Netherlands by 3.9%.

Industrial and Agricultural Sectors Drive Export Growth

Industrial products, which account for about 62% of Colombia’s non-mining exports, grew by 4.1% year-over-year. Key industrial exports included electrical machinery and equipment, which rose by 30.3%, and cosmetics and beauty preparations, up by 26.4%. Exports of plastics and related products grew by 10.6%, while sales of insecticides and fungicides increased by 4.1%.

Agricultural products, comprising 37.8% of Colombia’s non-mining export basket, grew by 16% through September. Significant increases were observed in exports of Tahiti lime (69%), bananas (48.6%), Hass avocado (42.4%), and passion fruit (20.2%). Coffee exports rose by 11.6%, while cut flower exports increased by 12%. Tilapia fillets saw a modest increase of 7.6%.

Regional Contributions to Export Growth

Several Colombian regions played a prominent role in the export growth of non-mining goods. Risaralda saw the largest percentage increase, with exports reaching $639.9 million, up 58.9% year-over-year. Huila exported $677.1 million worth of non-mining goods, representing a 35.3% increase, while Santander reported $253.6 million in exports, marking a 12% rise.

Bolívar contributed $1.38 billion in exports, showing a 10.1% growth, and Antioquia led with $3.02 billion in non-mining exports, a 9.1% increase. Other regions also contributed, reflecting a broad geographic distribution of Colombia’s non-mining export growth.

Government’s Strategy and Export Support

According to Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Tourism Luis Carlos Reyes Hernández, the government is focused on sustaining export growth by supporting regional businesses. The Ministry is working with local entrepreneurs to help them access new markets, providing various resources and support tools to boost Colombia’s international presence in non-traditional sectors.

The rise in Colombia’s non-mining exports reflects ongoing efforts to diversify the country’s export base, moving away from traditional reliance on mining and energy products. This trend underscores Colombia’s strategic push to leverage its agricultural and industrial sectors to enhance trade resilience and support economic growth.

This demonstration may affect gate and street access to the Embassy.

Actions for foreign individuals to take, according to the US State Department:

• Avoid demonstrations
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Assistance for US citizens:

U.S. Embassy Bogota, Colombia
Tel. +57-1-275-2000 or 601-275-2000
acsbogota@state.gov
https://co.usembassy.gov/

U.S. Consular Agency, Barranquilla
conagencybarranquilla@state.gov

U.S. Department of State – Consular Affairs
1-888-407-4747 or 1-202-501-4444
Colombia Country Information

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This year’s program features 3,000 activities across 25 event categories, with the participation of 280 national and international guests. Among them are 16 international editors and publishing agents from countries including Argentina, Mexico, Venezuela, Ecuador, Spain, Puerto Rico, Brazil, Bolivia, Uruguay, and Chile.

The event’s agenda will include discussions, workshops, literary activities, and exhibitions. Notable participants include Colombian authors Mario Mendoza, Luis Miguel Rivas, and Velia Vidal. International guests include Andrés Oppenheimer (Argentina), Katie Kitamura (US), Javier Peña (Spain), Audry Magee (Ireland), Aura García-Junco (Mexico), and Carlos Manuel Álvarez (Cuba).

In addition to celebrating independent publishing, the event will commemorate significant milestones, such as the 100th anniversaries of La Vorágine and Colombian comics, the 20th anniversary of Bibliocirco, and the relaunch of the León de Greiff Prize, which recognizes contributions to publishing and literature nationwide.

The Fundación Secretos para Contar, participating for the first time, will conduct workshops at the Jardín Lectura Viva. These workshops, inspired by the foundation’s work in urban and rural areas of Antioquia and Colombia, will focus on reading promotion and narrative creation. The foundation will also unveil its ninth book collection, emphasizing the connection between rural and urban life.

Other highlights include the Cuentódromo, Salón del Libro Infantil y Juvenil, Salón del Cómic y la Ilustración, Salón de Nuevas Lecturas, Salón del Libro Universitario, and Salón de la Autopublicación. The event will also feature book launches, a national booksellers’ meeting, and seminars on editor training and comic research in Colombia.

Bibliocirco will mark its 30th anniversary with a performance on September 7, launching the latest installment in its Cuentico Amarillo series, La niña perdida espera a Peter Pan, written by José Andrés Ardila and illustrated by Yanneth Pineda.

On September 12 and 13, the Secretaría de Cultura Ciudadana and Sura will host conversations under the theme “How to Live Well Together?” These discussions, aligned with the Medellín Te Quiere 2024-2027 Development Plan, will explore social trust, civic culture, and community resilience.

The event is supported by a public investment of $9 billion pesos from the Medellín city government, which aims to promote literacy, writing, and oral traditions across the city’s 16 districts and five townships. Partnerships with organizations such as Comfenalco, Comfama, EPM, Fundación Saldarriaga Concha, and El Colombiano have also facilitated the event’s programming.

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As first announced by our colleagues at EmpleoBilingue.com, Interested workers must hurry, because the application window has already opened! 20,000 visas are reserved for nationals of El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Haiti, Colombia, Ecuador, and Costa Rica for the entirety of FY 2024. Citizens of other eligible countries may also apply under different allocations, see the table below for eligibility.

We reached out to our friends at the US State Department, and a US Embassy Bogotá spokesperson told us the following:

Every year, the United States welcomes thousands of foreign workers through the H-2B visa program to fill temporary, nonagricultural jobs in the United States.  This year, in line with the Biden Administration’s commitment to expand lawful pathways as an alternative to irregular migration, the H-2B visa program includes a special allotment of 20,000 visas for workers from seven countries, including Colombia.  H-2B visas are nonimmigrant visas that allow U.S. employers or agencies to temporarily employ foreign workers in the United States to fill urgent workforce demands.  U.S. businesses in industries such as hospitality, tourism, landscaping, seafood processing, and more rely on seasonal and temporary workers in the H2-B program to help them meet demand.  In order to apply for an H2-B visa, a U.S. employer or agency must petition for the workers they want to bring to the United States.  Only foreign workers whose petitions have been approved by the Department of Homeland Security can apply for an H-2B visa.  Because of this, anyone interested in applying for an H-2B visa must first search for U.S. companies seeking H-2B workers and contact the company to secure a job.  One useful database of seasonal and temporary job openings is https://seasonaljobs.dol.gov/

In addition to the H2-B program, thousands of Colombian university students visit the United States every summer as part of the Summer Work Travel and Camp Counselor programs.  Through these special exchanges, young Colombians work  at U.S. summer camps all over the country or as seasonal or temporary employees for U.S.-based companies.  On May 4, the U.S.  Embassy opened its doors to 1,000 Colombian university students applying for J-1 visas to participate.  For more information on how to apply for the summer work and travel program, please visit: https://j1visa.state.gov/programs/summer-work-travel#participants

Be sure to sign up to receive job alerts for bilingual opportunities at EmpleoBilingue.com

According to the US Citizenship and Immigration Service, effective Nov. 9, 2023, nationals from the following countries are eligible to participate in the H-2B program:

Above photo: Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio (Photo: Loren Moss)

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Participation in the 16th edition of the annual fair beat the previous high and included nearly 3,500 accredited members of the international business community from more than 40 countries, including most of Latin America, Japan, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, India, Afghanistan, and more.

Of the 450 total exhibitors, 106 were international, including 12 first-time foreign exhibitors and a large presence of industry companies from Asia.

In terms of economic impact, F2R 2024 generated more than $20 million USD for the city, according to the Secretariat of Economic Development of Medellín, and helped facilitate upward of $60 million USD in sales, both between exhibitors in large-volume transactions and in sales to the general public who attended. More than 1,400 motorcycles were sold during the show, according to organizers.

Next year’s event is May 15-18, 2025

For more information go to https://www.feria2ruedas.com/en/visit…

See also: 

Interview: Guillermo Pajón Explains How Medellín’s F2R Became One of the Most Important Motorcycle Industry Events in the World