Discover the Top Exports of Colombia

Colombia, with its favorable climate and rich natural diversity, is not only blessed with abundant natural resources but also plays a major role in the global export market. From hydrocarbons and valuable minerals like oil and gold to agricultural commodities like coffee and bananas, Colombia boasts several industries that significantly contribute to its GDP and national employment, but also ensure the world’s prosperity.

In this article, we will explore Colombia’s top exports, showcasing how these sectors support the Colombian economy.

1 – Oil

Colombia stands as a major oil producer and exporter, holding the 20^th position among the world’s top oil exporters as of 2022. Oil and its derivatives are Colombia’s main exports, amounting to US$15.6 billion in 2023, with an annual production of approximately 266 million barrels. The United States is Colombia’s principal client, with Colombian oil comprising about 4 percent of US oil imports.

The country’s oil production is concentrated in five departments: Meta, Casanare, Arauca, Santander, and Huila, which account for 86.6 percent of the national output. Additionally, over three-quarters of the nation’s oil reserves are found in the Casanare department, which alone possess 49 percent of the national reserves, followed by La Guajira and Cordoba departments.

The oil industry is a crucial sector in Colombia, contributing more than 3 percent to the GDP and generating around 250,000 direct and indirect jobs. In recent years, the sector has faced challenges from criminal activities, including the theft and smuggling of legally extracted oil, and from political decisions, with President Gustavo Petro forbidding the issuing of new oil exploitation contracts.

2 – Coal

Coal, including briquettes, and bituminous coal, is Colombia’s second-largest export. Thanks to its rich subsoil, Colombia is among the world’s leading coal producers and exporters. In 2023, it ranked as the fifth-largest coal exporter, with 51 million tons exported, only behind Indonesia, Australia, Russia, and South Africa. According to the Colombian National Mining Agency (Agencia de Mineria Naciona) the coal sector industry contributes between 1.5 and 2 percent to the national GDP, and supports approximately 130,000 direct and indirect jobs. Notably, 90 percent of the country’s coal production is concentrated in the Cesar and La Guajira departments, located on the Caribbean coast.  

3 – Gold

Gold stands as another major export for Colombia, accounting for approximately 1.5 percent of global production. The country’s gold is primarily exported to the United States, Italy, Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates, which together import three-quarters of Colombia’s total gold exports. The gold industry, concentrated in the Antioquia, Choco and Bolivar departments, is characterized by a high level of informality. As such, it is estimated that around 40 percent of the gold exported from Colombia results from illegal extraction. This situation is problematic as illegal mining is often controlled by illegal armed groups, such as the Gulf Clan or the ELN, which then use the profits to fund their operations.

4 – Coffee

Renowned worldwide for its coffee quality, Colombia is also one of its main sources. The country ranks as the third-largest producer and exporter of this product, just behind Brazil and Vietnam, and is the world’s leading exporter of Washed Arabica Coffee. In 2023, Colombia exported 11.3 million 60kg coffee bags, totaling around US$3.5 billion in value.

Coffee culture is extremely important in Colombia. It is estimated that 540,000 families rely on coffee production for their livelihood. Paradoxically, over 90 percent of the coffee produced in Colombia is exported, with 40 percent destined for the United States. Because of its economic and social significance, Colombian coffee has been protected since 1984 by the Cafe de Colombia label, which ensures the origin and quality of Colombian coffee. In 2002, Colombia’s National Federation of Coffee Growers founded Juan Valdez, a coffeehouse chain aimed at promoting Colombian coffee domestically as well as internationally, with a presence in 13 countries including the Untied States, Argentina, Spain and the United Arab Emirates.

5 – Flowers

After coffee, flowers are Colombia’s main agricultural export. The country is a true floral paradise, with one of the world’s highest levels of floral biodiversity and the largest variety of orchids in the world. Consequently, Colombia is the world’s second-largest exporter of flowers, primarily roses, orchids, hydrangeas, carnations, and chrysanthemums, accounting for nearly 20 percent of the global market.

Mainly concentrated in the Andean departments of Cundinamarca and Antioquia, which account for 98 percent of the national production of commercial flowers, floriculture generates more than 200,000 direct and indirect jobs. Flower exports bring in about two billion dollars annually, with the primary import market being the United States, attracting about 80 percent of the flow.

6 – Bananas

Colombia is a historic banana producer and one of the main producers of the fruit in the Americas. The banana sector represents a significant agricultural activity in Colombia, with over 35,000 families depending on banana cultivation for their livelihood and around 300,000 direct and indirect jobs generated by the industry. Bananas intended for export are primarily produced in the Antioquia department (accounting for over 60 percent), as well as in the Magdalena and La Guajira departments, with the majority of exports destined for the European Union.