Colombia Imports & Exports: Trade Profile & Top Partners

Colombia is one of Latin America’s most active trading economies. Crude oil, coffee, coal, and cut flowers flow out. Machinery, refined petroleum, vehicles, and chemicals flow in. And the United States sits at the center of it all as Colombia’s single largest trading partner, with over $37 billion in two-way goods trade in 2024 alone.

This guide breaks down Colombia’s full trade profile, what it exports, what it imports, who it trades with, and what US importers and exporters need to know about the US-Colombia relationship. 

Artemus Transportation Solutions has helped US businesses stay compliant on cross-border trade since 1999 through our ISF (Importer Security Filing), AMS (Automated Manifest System), and AES (Automated Export System) filing platforms, and the numbers below come from USTR, USDA, and US Census Bureau data through 2024.

Colombia Imports & Exports: An Overview

Colombia exported about $49.6 billion in goods in 2024 and imported roughly $64 billion, leaving a trade deficit of about $14.5 billion. Crude petroleum, coffee, coal, and cut flowers lead its exports. Machinery, refined fuels, vehicles, and chemicals dominate its imports. The United States is Colombia’s top trading partner, accounting for close to 30% of both sides of the trade, followed by China, Panama, and the European Union.

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Colombia Trade Profile At A Glance (2024)

Here is the full snapshot of Colombia’s 2024 trade position in one view:

Metric	2024 Value
Total exports	$49.6 billion
Total imports	$64 billion
Trade deficit	$14.5 billion
Top export category	Mineral fuels (crude oil + coal): $22.5 billion
Top export partner	United States ($15 billion in exports to US)
Top import partner	United States, followed by China
Trade-to-GDP ratio	33% (moderately open economy)
US-Colombia total goods trade	$37.5 billion (2024)

Colombia’s economy runs on raw materials and agriculture, but it imports most of its machinery, vehicles, and industrial inputs. That structural mix is why Colombia consistently runs a trade deficit even in years when commodity prices are strong.

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What Are Colombia’s Top Exports?

Colombia’s export basket is dominated by a handful of commodities. In 2024, the top 10 export categories accounted for nearly 80% of total export revenue. Here are the headline numbers:

Export Category	2024 Value	Share of Exports
Crude petroleum	$18.5 billion	24% (largest single export)
Coffee	$4.8 billion	7% (Colombia is the world’s #3 coffee exporter)
Coal and coal briquettes	$3.6 billion	12% combined with refined coal products
Gold (unwrought)	$4.1 billion	8%
Cut flowers	$2.8 billion	5% (world’s #2 cut flower exporter)
Bananas and plantains	$1.5 billion	2.5%
Palm oil (animal/vegetable fats)	$1.1 billion	2% (world’s 4th-largest producer)

1. Crude Petroleum and Coal

Energy exports are the backbone of Colombia’s foreign earnings. Crude oil alone made up roughly a quarter of all exports in 2024, and when combined with coal and refined petroleum products, mineral fuels accounted for about 45% of total export value. The main buyers are the United States, Panama, and China.

2. Coffee

Colombia is the world’s third-largest coffee exporter and by far the most famous, known globally for its Arabica beans. Coffee is both an economic pillar and a cultural one, employing over 500,000 farming families. The US, Germany, and Japan are the top destinations.

3. Gold and Emeralds

Colombia is one of Latin America’s largest gold exporters and the world’s leading source of emeralds. Precious stones and metals together hit around $4.3 billion in 2024. Switzerland, India, and the US lead the buyer list.

4. Cut Flowers

Colombia is the world’s second-largest cut flower exporter after the Netherlands, known for roses and carnations. Around 75% of Colombian flowers go to the United States, often through Miami’s specialized cold-chain infrastructure. Peak volume hits around Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day.

5. Bananas

Bananas are another key agricultural export, with the US and EU being the primary markets. The Uraba and Magdalena regions produce most of Colombia’s banana volume.

6. Palm Oil

Colombia is the fourth-largest palm oil producer in the world and the largest in the Americas, producing close to 2 million tonnes per year. Exports sit within the animal and vegetable fats category at around $1 billion annually, though the share sent abroad has been falling as Colombia’s biodiesel blending program absorbs more domestic supply. Brazil, Mexico, and the Netherlands are the top destinations.

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What Does Colombia Import?

Colombia’s import basket reflects a manufacturing and consumer economy that depends on foreign machinery, fuels, and industrial inputs. In 2024, total imports reached about $64.1 billion according to World’s Top Exports data sourced from UN Comtrade, with the top 10 categories making up over 70% of the total. Here is the headline breakdown:

Import Category	2024 Value	Share of Imports
Machinery including computers	$7 billion	11%
Electrical machinery & equipment	$6.2 billion	9.7%
Vehicles and auto parts	$4.8 billion	7.6%
Mineral fuels (refined petroleum)	$4.6 billion	7%
Pharmaceuticals	$3.7 billion	5.8%
Cereals (corn, wheat, rice)	$2.7 billion	4.3%
Plastics and articles	$2.7 billion	4.2%
Organic chemicals	$2.3 billion	3.6%

1. Machinery Including Computers

At about $7 billion in 2024, machinery is Colombia’s largest import category. Colombian businesses spent the most on computers and optical readers (~$1.4 billion, up 23% year over year), followed by heavy machinery for construction and mining (~$422 million) and industrial pumps (~$311 million). Washing machines and refrigerators saw the sharpest growth in 2024, reflecting rising consumer spending.

2. Electrical Machinery and Equipment

Electrical equipment imports reached ~$6.2 billion in 2024. This category covers telecommunications equipment, transformers, switches, batteries, and consumer electronics. China and the US dominate this segment, with China steadily gaining share as Colombian infrastructure projects roll out.

3. Vehicles and Auto Parts

Vehicle imports totaled roughly $4.8 billion in 2024. Cars, trucks, and auto components come in from the US, Mexico, China, and South Korea. Colombia has a small domestic assembly industry but depends on imports for most finished vehicles. Motorcycle imports grew 30% year over year, one of the fastest-growing subcategories.

4. Refined Petroleum and Fuels

Despite exporting crude oil, Colombia imported about $4.6 billion in refined petroleum products in 2024. Domestic refining capacity cannot fully meet demand, so gasoline, diesel, and related products move south from the US Gulf Coast. Petroleum gas imports saw the sharpest jump, up 122% year over year in 2024.

5. Pharmaceuticals

Pharmaceutical imports were approximately $3.7 billion in 2024, making Colombia a significant net importer of medicines and medical products. The US, Germany, and Switzerland are the top suppliers. Healthcare modernization and an aging population are driving steady growth in this category.

6. Cereals (Agricultural Imports)

Colombia imported about $2.7 billion in cereals in 2024, primarily yellow corn, wheat, and rice. According to the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, US yellow corn exports to Colombia alone exceed $1 billion annually, feeding the country’s poultry, pork, and livestock industries. This is one of the clearest wins from the US-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement.

7. Plastics and Chemicals

Plastics in primary form totaled roughly $2.7 billion, and organic chemicals another $2.3 billion. These are essential industrial inputs for Colombia’s domestic manufacturing, especially packaging, consumer products, and construction.

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Colombia’s Top Trading Partners

Colombia’s trade is concentrated among a small number of major partners. The US leads by a wide margin on both the export and import sides.

Rank	Partner	2024 Export Value from Colombia
1	United States	$15 billion (30% of all exports)
2	Panama	$4.1 billion
3	India	$2.6 billion
4	China	$2.3 billion
5	Netherlands	$2 billion
6	Mexico	$2 billion
7	Brazil	$1 billion

On the import side, the US and China are Colombia’s two biggest suppliers. In early 2025, Chinese imports briefly outpaced US imports for a month, something that caught attention in Washington and reflects China’s steadily growing presence across Latin America.

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US-Colombia Trade: A Closer Look

The United States is Colombia’s single most important trading partner, and Colombia is the US’s 24th-largest trade partner worldwide. According to the Office of the US Trade Representative, total US-Colombia goods and services trade reached about $53.3 billion in 2024, up 8.3% from 2023.

US Exports to Colombia

The US exported about $19.04 billion in goods to Colombia in 2024, an 8.5% jump from the previous year. The top US exports heading south include:

Mineral fuels and refined petroleum products lead the list, reflecting Colombia’s dependence on imported refined fuels. Nuclear reactors and industrial machinery follow closely at around $1.73 billion. Plastics come in at roughly $1 billion, and prepared animal food (yellow corn and feed products for Colombia’s poultry and livestock industries) hits about $990 million. Yellow corn alone exceeds $1 billion in annual US exports to Colombia.

US Imports from Colombia

The US imported about $18.43 billion from Colombia in 2024. The leaders:

Mineral fuels and oils (crude petroleum and coal) top US imports from Colombia at roughly $7.67 billion. Live trees and plants, primarily cut flowers, came in at about $1.64 billion. Coffee followed at $1.52 billion, aluminum at $669 million, and electrical machinery at $459 million. Plastics, precious stones, and miscellaneous edible preparations round out the top 10.

The US Trade Surplus with Colombia

The US has run a trade surplus with Colombia every year from 2013 through 2024. In 2024 that surplus reached about $1.3 billion on the goods side, meaning the US sold more to Colombia than it bought. This is unusual for US-Latin America trade relationships and largely reflects the strength of US agricultural and industrial exports flowing south under the free trade agreement.

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The Role of the US-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement

The US-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement (CTPA) took effect on May 15, 2012, eliminating tariffs on most industrial goods and phasing out duties on agricultural products over time. According to the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, US agricultural exports to Colombia grew by more than 237% between 2012 and 2023, reaching a record $3.7 billion.

The agreement has made Colombia the largest South American market for US agricultural products and the seventh-largest globally for US food and beverage exports. Yellow corn, pork, dairy, and wheat are among the biggest winners. For US industrial exporters, the agreement removed tariffs on over 80% of industrial products at implementation, with most remaining tariffs phased out by 2022.

In practical terms, the CTPA means most goods moving between the US and Colombia can cross the border duty-free, provided they meet the rules of origin. That makes US-Colombia trade one of the cleaner bilateral relationships in the hemisphere.

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Customs Compliance for US-Colombia Shipments

Even with free trade agreement coverage, US-Colombia shipments still need accurate customs filings on both sides. Here is what matters most for US importers and exporters:

For US Importers Bringing Goods from Colombia

Ocean shipments from Colombian ports (Cartagena, Buenaventura, Santa Marta) require an Importer Security Filing at least 24 hours before the vessel loads. The carrier files the AMS manifest. The importer or broker files the entry and pays duties (usually zero under CTPA for qualifying goods), Merchandise Processing Fee, and Harbor Maintenance Fee. Correct HTS classification is critical because it determines whether a shipment qualifies for CTPA duty-free treatment.

For US Exporters Shipping to Colombia

US exporters need an AES filing for Electronic Export Information on shipments valued over $2,500 per Schedule B classification. Proper documentation under the CTPA (including the Certification of Origin) is required to claim the preferential tariff treatment on the Colombian side. Miss the certification and your buyer pays full Colombian duty rates, which can quickly erase the margin on the deal.

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How Artemus Simplifies US-Colombia Trade Compliance

Cross-border trade with Colombia depends on clean filings on both sides. A missed ISF or a mismatched AES submission can stop a shipment even when the underlying trade is duty-free under CTPA. Artemus Transportation Solutions builds trade compliance software that removes those filing risks before they reach CBP.

Our ISF 10+2 web application has been in operation since 2008 and lets importers, freight forwarders, and NVOCCs file on time with automated data checks that catch mismatches before submission. Our AMS software handles electronic manifest filings for carriers meeting the 24-hour rule, covering ocean, air, and rail. And our AES filing platform manages Electronic Export Information submissions for US exporters shipping internationally, which is exactly what US sellers to Colombia need.

Licensed customs brokers use our Customs Broker Software to manage filings and compliance across their entire client book. For non-resident companies importing into the US, our Importer of Record Profile service handles the full onboarding, including CBP Form 5106 and continuous bond setup. Accurate filings, submitted on time, are what separate smooth US-Colombia trade from costly customs delays.

FAQs

1. Who is Colombia’s biggest trading partner?

The United States is Colombia’s biggest trading partner on both sides of the ledger. In 2024, US-Colombia two-way goods trade totaled around $37.5 billion, with the US accounting for roughly 30% of Colombia’s total exports and a similar share of imports.

2. What are Colombia’s top 3 exports?

Crude petroleum (~$18.5 billion in 2024), coffee (~$4.8 billion), and gold (~$4.1 billion) are Colombia’s top three exports. Coal, cut flowers, and bananas round out the top six.

3. What does the US import from Colombia most?

Mineral fuels (crude oil and coal) are the largest category at around $7.67 billion in 2024. Next come cut flowers and live plants at $1.64 billion, coffee at $1.52 billion, and aluminum at $669 million.

4. How much does the US export to Colombia?

US goods exports to Colombia were about $19.04 billion in 2024, up 8.5% from 2023. Mineral fuels, industrial machinery, plastics, and prepared animal food (including over $1 billion in yellow corn) lead the list.

5. Does the US have a free trade agreement with Colombia?

Yes. The US-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement (CTPA) took effect in May 2012. It eliminated tariffs on most industrial goods immediately and phased out tariffs on most agricultural products over the years following. The agreement covers goods, services, investment, and intellectual property.

6. What does Colombia import from the US?

Colombia imports mineral fuels, nuclear reactors and industrial machinery, plastics, prepared animal feed (yellow corn), pharmaceuticals, vehicles, and electronics from the US. The US is Colombia’s largest source for agricultural imports and industrial equipment.

7. What is Colombia’s trade balance with the US?

The US runs a trade surplus with Colombia. In 2024 that surplus was about $1.3 billion on goods, meaning the US exported more to Colombia than it imported. The US has held a trade surplus with Colombia every year since 2013, driven largely by agricultural and industrial exports flowing south under CTPA.

Conclusion

Colombia’s trade profile looks simple from a distance, oil and coffee go out, machinery and fuel come in, but it is more layered than that. The country exports some of the best coffee and emeralds in the world, supplies three-quarters of US cut flower imports, and depends on US yellow corn to feed its livestock. The CTPA ties the two economies together in ways that benefit both sides, and the US trade surplus with Colombia is one of the quieter success stories in US trade policy.

For US importers and exporters, the message is straightforward. The trade infrastructure is strong, duties are often zero, and the regulatory relationship is stable. What separates clean shipments from stuck ones is the same thing it always is: accurate filings, correct classification, and paperwork that matches the cargo.

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