Colombia export sector faces competitiveness challenges amid trade shifts

AmCham Colombia has called for a long-term strategy to bolster the productivity and competitiveness of the nation's export sector. The organization noted that while currency revaluation impacts trade, structural issues such as rising labor costs, high interest rates, insufficient infrastructure, insecurity, and complex customs processes continue to drive up the cost of exporting.

María Claudia Lacouture, president of AmCham Colombia, emphasized that while a high dollar provides temporary relief, it does not replace the need for productivity. The group is advocating for short-term support for employment-intensive sectors and a long-term public-private agenda to reduce production costs.

Concurrently, data from Dane shows that imports from Colombian Free Trade Zones rose by 21.4% in June 2026 compared to June 2025, reaching US$226.3 million, largely driven by a lower exchange rate. However, total exports from these zones saw a slight decrease of 0.9%, falling to US$235.3 million, primarily due to lower sales of processed goods.