COLOMBIA · TRADE
Key Facts
- The country Colombia is one of South America’s largest economies and a major buyer of US goods.
- What happened Colombia’s imports rose 31.7% to US$7,702.5 million in August 2026, in figures released on Wednesday 21 October.
- US sales US exports to Colombia jumped 48.8% to US$1,736.8 million, lifting the US share of Colombia’s import bill to 22.5%.
- The drivers Gasoline, diesel, crude oil and corn made up about US$537 million of the US$570 million rise in US sales.
- The competition China remained the top supplier at 28.3%, with US$2,178.6 million of sales, up 26.6%.
- Year to date Colombia imported US$53,746.4 million of goods from January to August, up 17.2%, of which the United States supplied 22.8%.
- Power Index Colombia ranks 6th of 14 in The Rio Times Latin America Power Index, with 51.9 points (October 2026 edition).
US exports to Colombia jumped 48.8% in August 2026 to US$1,736.8 million, according to the national statistics agency DANE. Colombia’s total imports rose 31.7% to US$7,702.5 million, far above the 19% rise forecasters had expected.
The United States is now Colombia’s second-largest supplier, with a 22.5% share behind China at 28.3%. Fuel did most of the work, so American exporters should read the surge as a gasoline, diesel and corn story, not a machinery story.
What DANE Reported on Wednesday
DANE said imports totalled US$7,702.5 million, up from US$5,850.4 million in August 2025, on a CIF basis that includes insurance and freight. Growth accelerated from July’s 22.9%, and the figures are provisional.
From January to August, imports reached US$53,746.4 million, up 17.2% from the same months of 2025. In August alone the trade deficit widened to US$2,770.4 million from US$1,649.1 million a year earlier.
What Colombia Bought From the United States
US exports to Colombia rose from US$1,167.2 million to US$1,736.8 million, a gain of US$569.6 million. That was the largest single contribution to the monthly increase, ahead of China, whose sales grew 26.6% to US$2,178.6 million.
The US share of Colombia’s import bill climbed to 22.5% from about 20.0% in August 2025. Over the first eight months, US exports to Colombia reached US$12,262.9 million, up 12.8%, for a share of 22.8%.
Fuel and Corn Drove the US Jump
Gasoline and other light oils from the United States rose 256.8% to US$424.3 million, and diesel-type gas oils climbed from US$20.1 million to US$142.1 million. Crude oil, which was close to zero a year earlier, reached US$46.5 million.
US corn sales added US$186.8 million, up 50.5%. Those four items account for about US$537 million of the US$570 million rise, while all other US goods grew only 3.7% to US$937.0 million.
Colombia’s Fuel Import Bill Nearly Tripled
Across all suppliers, fuels and extractive products jumped 190.1% to US$1,177.0 million, and petroleum and its derivatives rose 262.6% to US$824.8 million. Fuels now make up 15.3% of imports, compared with 6.9% in August 2025.
Liquefied natural gas from Trinidad and Tobago rose to US$195.8 million from US$21.4 million, making that Caribbean country the sixth-largest source of Colombian imports. Gas supply was already in the news in September, when a fault at the Cartagena LNG terminal led to rationing, as our earlier coverage reports.
Machinery, Chemicals and Food
Manufactured goods make up 70.6% of imports and rose 18.9% to US$5,439.6 million. Machinery and transport equipment gained 22.8% to US$2,579.1 million, and chemicals gained 22.2% to US$1,452.2 million.
Food and live animals grew 30.5% to US$828.1 million, and passenger cars from China rose 157.2% to US$184.8 million. From January to August, Chinese car sales are up 330.1% to US$1,283.2 million, a sign of how fast Chinese brands are entering the market.
What It Means for US Readers
For US farm exporters, Colombia is a growing grain and feed buyer, with cereal imports up 19.9% to US$2,119.1 million from January to August. For US fuel sellers, US exports to Colombia show how quickly demand for imported gasoline and diesel can swing.
For US manufacturers and car makers the picture is less bright, because US exports to Colombia outside fuel and corn grew only 3.7%. For investors, a US$2,770.4 million monthly trade deficit adds pressure on the peso, which traded near 3,154 pesos per US dollar on 21 October 2026.
What Is Not Known
DANE’s bulletin does not say why imports of US gasoline and diesel rose so sharply. It is also not clear whether the jump reflects a one-off supply gap or a lasting change in how Colombia buys fuel.
The August figures are provisional and may be revised in later bulletins. DANE has not yet published September data, so it is unknown whether the pace of growth will hold.
More: Colombia news in English, every day from The Rio Times.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did Colombia import from the United States in August 2026?
Colombia imported US$1,736.8 million of goods from the United States in August 2026, up 48.8% from August 2025. That gave the United States a 22.5% share of Colombian imports.
Who is Colombia’s biggest import supplier?
China is Colombia’s largest supplier, with 28.3% of imports in August 2026 worth US$2,178.6 million. The United States ranks second, followed by Brazil, Mexico and Germany.
What did the United States sell to Colombia?
Gasoline, diesel, crude oil and corn drove most of the increase, worth about US$537 million of the US$570 million rise. Other US goods grew only 3.7%.
How fast did Colombia’s total imports grow?
Total imports rose 31.7% to US$7,702.5 million in August 2026, according to DANE. Forecasters had expected growth of about 19%, and July’s rise was 22.9%.
What is DANE?
DANE is Colombia’s national statistics agency, which publishes official trade, inflation and jobs data. Its import figures are built from customs declarations filed with the tax and customs authority DIAN.
Sources: DANE, Importaciones (IMPO) technical bulletin, August 2026, 21 October 2026; DANE, Importaciones statistics page, 21 October 2026; DANE, Importaciones July 2026 (previous release), 21 September 2026.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief