Colombia macroeconomic monitordata as of 9 Oct 2026
Foreign trade: what Colombia sells and buys
Goods exports and imports from official DANE and DIAN figures: how much, what, for what and with whom.
Foreign trade in twelve figures
- Over the last 12 months (to Jul 2026) Colombia exported US$53.8 bn and imported US$77.6 bn: a trade deficit of US$23.7 bn.
- Exports changed +8.2% and imports +12.9% versus the year before.
- Oil and coal are 35% of what the country sells, versus 39% a year earlier.
- Purchases of capital goods, which anticipate investment, are up 13.9% in Jan–Jul 2026.
How much does Colombia sell and buy?
- The last year with a trade surplus was 2011; the deficit widened from 2014, when oil prices fell.
- Over 12 months the country sold US$53.8 bn and bought US$77.6 bn.
- In 2026 (January to Jul) the cumulative deficit is US$14.4 bn.
?Each point adds up the previous 12 months, in billions of dollars. When the orange line (imports) is above the blue one (exports), the country runs a trade deficit.
?Exports minus imports each year, in billions of dollars. Green: surplus; orange: deficit. The last year runs from January to the latest month published.
What does Colombia sell?
- Non-traditional products (manufacturing, farming, flowers, chemicals) are 54% of 12-month sales.
- Oil contributes 26% and coal 9%; coffee, 10%.
- The weight of oil and coal went from 68% in Jun 2014 to 35% today: the country depends less on mining than a decade ago.
?Bar length: billions of dollars sold over 12 months. The number is the share of the total. Hover to see the annual change.
?Share of 12-month exports that is oil and derivatives plus coal. When it falls, the country depends less on mining.
What does it buy, and for what?
- In Jan–Jul 2026 imports are up +15.1% versus 2025.
- The fastest risers are durable consumer goods (+45.5%) and transport equipment (+26.7%).
- Raw materials for industry, the largest item, are up +5.1%.
?Classification by economic use (CUODE). Green: growing; orange: falling. The number in brackets is each group's share of imports in the period.
?Each bar is one year (100%). Blue: consumer goods; green: raw materials and inputs; orange: capital goods and construction. The latest year is partial.
Who does it trade with?
- United States buys 28% of Colombia's exports over 12 months, followed by European Union (14%) and Panama (8%).
- On the purchasing side, China supplies 29% of Colombia's imports and United States 22%.
?Share of the last 12 months' exports going to each destination. 'Rest' groups the other countries.
?Share of the last 12 months' imports coming from each country (top 10).
Selling more, or selling at higher prices?
- Over 12 months the value of exports changed +8.2%: dollar prices +11.0% and implied volume -2.5%.
- Imports changed +12.9%, with prices +1.1% and volume +11.7%.
- The terms of trade changed +2.5%.
?Annual change. Value = DANE 12-month sum; price = Banco de la República dollar price index (12-month average); implied volume = (1 + value) / (1 + price) − 1.
?Annual change. Value = DANE 12-month sum; price = Banco de la República dollar price index (12-month average); implied volume = (1 + value) / (1 + price) − 1.
How Colombia's exports have changed
- Over 12 months exports total US$53.8 bn.
- Non-traditional products went from 28% of the total in Jun 2014 to 54% today; oil and coal, from 68% to 35%.
?Billions of FOB dollars, 12-month sum, stacked areas: the total height is what was exported.
The balance with each partner
- With China Colombia runs a deficit of US$20.6 bn over 12 months and with Canada a surplus of US$1.1 bn.
- China's share of imports went from 14% in 2010 to 29%; that of the United States, from 26% to 22%.
?Billions of dollars. FOB exports minus CIF imports (CIF includes freight and insurance). Green: surplus; orange: deficit.
?Share of 12-month imports.
Openness and concentration
- Goods trade is equivalent to 25.4% of GDP.
- Exports go to a number of destinations equivalent to 6.4 equal-sized partners (10 years ago, 5.5); and to a number of products equivalent to 2.6 groups (of the five DANE publishes).
?Goods exports and imports over four quarters divided by dollar GDP for the same quarters.
?Equivalent number = 1 / Herfindahl index of 12-month shares. Higher = more evenly spread exports.
Methodological basis and literature
- Prebisch, R. (1950). The Economic Development of Latin America and its Principal Problems. Naciones Unidas, CEPAL.Terms of trade and commodity dependence.
- Melitz, M. J. (2003). The Impact of Trade on Intra-Industry Reallocations and Aggregate Industry Productivity. Econometrica, 71(6), 1695–1725.Why only the most productive firms export.
- Hausmann, R., Hwang, J. y Rodrik, D. (2007). What You Export Matters. Journal of Economic Growth, 12(1), 1–25.Export composition and growth.
- Hidalgo, C. A., Klinger, B., Barabási, A.-L. y Hausmann, R. (2007). The Product Space Conditions the Development of Nations. Science, 317(5837), 482–487.Productive diversification and the product space.
- DANE. Estadísticas de comercio internacional: exportaciones (FOB) e importaciones (CIF) con base en registros administrativos de la DIAN.Source and definitions of the figures on this page.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Colombia export and import?
Over the last 12 months (to Jul 2026) Colombia exported US$53.8 bn and imported US$77.6 bn: a trade deficit of US$23.7 bn. Exports changed +8.2% and imports +12.9% versus the year before.
What are Colombia's main exports?
Oil and derivatives, coal, coffee and ferronickel (traditional exports), plus non-traditional exports such as flowers, bananas, chemicals and manufactures.
What is the difference between FOB and CIF?
Exports are valued FOB, at the port of departure; imports CIF, including freight and insurance. That is why DANE's trade balance is somewhat more negative than the balance of payments figure.