South America’s second-most populated country trailing only Brazil, the Republic of Colombia imported US$43.5 billion worth of products from around the globe during 2020. That dollar amount reflects a -13.7% decline from $50.4 billion in 2019.

This article presents a quick reference snapshot of Colombia’s main imported products in 2020, categorized by dollar amount and major trading partners.

Data presented in this article is organized by overall metrics then drill down to the most valuable Colombian imports during 2020 for each of Colombia’s top 10 supplier countries. Those leading trading partners account for about three-quarters (74.5%) of total Colombian import purchases.

Colombia is the 4th-biggest South American nation as measured by land area. Nicknamed Gateway to South America due to the country’s location in the northwestern part of the continent at the confluence of Central and North America.

Colombia shares land borders with Venezuela to its east, Brazil to its southeast, Ecuador and Peru to its south, and Central America’s Panama to its northwest. Colombia also benefits from coastlines along the Caribbean Sea to its north, plus the Pacific Ocean to its west.

Product categories shown summarize calculations at the two-digit Harmonized System code level. Two-digit codes enable higher-level insights and trends for Colombian imports and each of the top supplier countries.

Colombia’s Main Imports from the US

In 2020, the United States’ exports to Colombia amounted to $10.6 billion or 24.5% of overall Colombian imports.

That dollar amount represents a -17.1% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 83.8% of Colombia’s imports from America.

Mineral fuels including oil: $1.8 billion
Cereals: $1.2 billion
Machinery: $985.1 million
Organic chemicals: $884.4 million
Food waste, animal fodder: $711.4 million
Plastics: $693.3 million
Pharmaceuticals: $498.2 million
Medical, technical equipment: $349.9 million
Electronic equipment: $337.5 million
Other chemical goods: $309.9 million
Vehicles: $266.7 million
Meat: $245.5 million
Aircraft, spacecraft: $219.7 million
Oil seed: $210.6 million
Beverages: $157.1 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Colombian imports from the United States under the cereals product category via a 28.2% gain in revenue then food waste or animal fodder (up 17.3%).

Posting the severest declines among Colombia’s top 15 imported products were mineral fuels including oil (down -45.2%), vehicles (down -45.1%), meat (down -25.7%), electronic equipment (down -20.1%), medical or technical equipment (down -15.5%) and pharmaceuticals (down -14.5%).

Colombia’s Main Imports from China

In 2020, China’s exports to Colombia amounted to $10.4 billion or 23.9% of overall Colombian imports.

That dollar amount represents a -0.8% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 81.3% of Colombia’s imports from mainland China.

Electronic equipment: $2.8 billion
Machinery: $1.9 billion
Vehicles: $534.7 million
Other textiles, worn clothing: $463.9 million
Medical, technical equipment: $404.3 million
Organic chemicals: $396 million
Plastics: $356 million
Iron and steel: $280.9 million
Rubber: $246.5 million
Iron or steel products: $214.4 million
Other chemical goods: $183.5 million
Furniture, lighting, signs: $181.8 million
Toys, games: $167 million
Man-made filaments: $146.3 million
Aluminum: $135.9 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Colombian imports from China under the miscellaneous textiles including worn clothing product category via a 978.4% gain in revenue, medical or technical equipment (up 57.8%), miscellaneous chemical goods (up 41.2%) and vehicles (up 30.5%).

Posting the severest declines among Colombia’s top 15 imported products were iron and steel as materials (down -30.8%), items made from iron or steel (down -22.8%), furniture, lighting and signs (down -19.5%), toys and games (down -19.4%) and plastics as a material (down -9.2%).

Colombia’s Main Imports from Mexico

In 2020, Mexico’s exports to Colombia amounted to $2.9 billion or 6.7% of overall Colombian imports.

That dollar amount represents a -20.9% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 85% of Colombia’s imports from Mexico.

Electronic equipment: $660.3 million
Vehicles: $617.9 million
Machinery: $302.7 million
Plastics: $165.2 million
Iron and steel: $157.7 million
Perfumes, cosmetics: $156.5 million
Pharmaceuticals: $84.4 million
Iron or steel products: $63.6 million
Tobacco: $58.4 million
Medical, technical equipment: $47.7 million
Cereal, milk preparations: $37.7 million
Copper: $35.6 million
Other food preparations: $35 million
Base metal tools, cutlery: $33.1 million
Tanning, dyeing extracts: $32.1 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Colombian imports from Mexico under the tobacco product category via a 68.8% gain in revenue and copper (up 36.7%).

Posting the severest declines among Colombia’s top 15 imported products were items made from iron or steel (down -48.2%), iron and steel as materials (down -27.6%), miscellaneous food preparations (down -26%), vehicles (down -22.9%), machinery (down -22.5%) and tanning or dyeing extracts (down -21.4%).

Colombia’s Main Imports from Brazil

In 2020, Brazil’s exports to Colombia amounted to $2.4 billion or 5.6% of overall Colombian imports.

That dollar amount represents a -19.7% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 76.7% of Colombia’s imports from Brazil.

Vehicles: $586 million
Machinery: $229.8 million
Plastics: $178 million
Iron and steel: $156.1 million
Electronic equipment: $97.9 million
Paper: $79.6 million
Cereals: $78.1 million
Other food preparations: $73.1 million
Coffee, tea, spices: $64.7 million
Pharmaceuticals: $64.2 million
Rubber: $63.9 million
Other chemical goods: $50.3 million
Copper: $50 million
Perfumes, cosmetics: $49.2 million
Food waste, animal fodder: $48.2 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Colombian imports from Brazil under the food waste or animal fodder product category via a 42.3% gain in revenue then coffee, tea and spices (up 27.1%).

Posting the severest declines among Colombia’s top 15 imported products were cereals (down -49.7%), iron and steel as materials (down -38.9%), vehicles (down -30%), rubber (down -26%), copper (down -22.2%) and miscellaneous food preparations (down -19%).

Colombia’s Main Imports from Germany

In 2020, Germany’s exports to Russia amounted to $1.6 billion or 4.4% of overall Russian imports.

That dollar amount represents a -21.5% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 89.9% of Colombia’s imports from Germany.

Pharmaceuticals: $443.5 million
Machinery: $287.8 million
Organic chemicals: $125.7 million
Vehicles: $122.1 million
Medical, technical equipment: $121.6 million
Plastics: $79.1 million
Electronic equipment: $77.6 million
Other chemical goods: $72.4 million
Paper: $33.7 million
Fertilizers: $24.6 million
Soaps, lubricants, candles: $23.4 million
Tanning, dyeing extracts: $21.8 million
Iron or steel products: $15.1 million
Rubber: $15 million
Inorganic chemicals: $14.5 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Russian imports from Germany under the inorganic chemicals product category via a 10.1% gain in revenue and pharmaceuticals (up 2.3%).

Posting the severest declines among Russia’s top 15 imported products were items made from iron or steel (down -39.5%), vehicles (down -32.2%), rubber (down -31.3%), paper (down -20.4%), tanning or dyeing extracts (down -20.2%) and electronic equipment (down -15.7%).

Colombia’s Main Imports from France

In 2020, France’s exports to Colombia amounted to $958.5 million or 2.2% of overall Colombian imports.

That dollar amount represents a -28.2% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 89.8% of Colombia’s imports from France.

Aircraft, spacecraft: $394.5 million
Pharmaceuticals: $123.4 million
Machinery: $107.1 million
Medical, technical equipment: $39.2 million
Vehicles: $36.5 million
Electronic equipment: $29.1 million
Perfumes, cosmetics: $23 million
Other chemical goods: $22.3 million
Organic chemicals: $21 million
Plastics: $17.9 million
Fruits, nuts: $10.9 million
Paper: $9.6 million
Iron or steel products: $8.9 million
Beverages: $8.8 million
Tanning, dyeing extracts: $8.2 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Colombian imports from France under the paper product category via a 35.6% gain in revenue then tanning or dyeing extracts (up 6.9%).

Posting the severest declines among Colombia’s top 15 imported products were vehicles (down -45.7%), aircraft and spacecraft (down -39.7%), items made from iron or steel (down -34.3%), electronic equipment (down -27.2%), perfumes and cosmetics (down -20.1%) and plastics as a material (down -19.1%).

Colombia’s Main Imports from India

In 2020, India’s exports to Colombia amounted to $937 million or 2.2% of overall Colombian imports.

That dollar amount represents a -16.3% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 70.2% of Colombia’s imports from India.

Organic chemicals: $133 million
Pharmaceuticals: $88.8 million
Cotton: $84.5 million
Vehicles: $61.6 million
Machinery: $51.5 million
Plastics: $32.6 million
Aluminum: $32.4 million
Electronic equipment: $29 million
Other chemical goods: $28.7 million
Iron or steel products: $24.1 million
Man-made staple fibers: $21.9 million
Tanning, dyeing extracts: $20.5 million
Rubber: $19.9 million
Iron and steel: $19 million
Medical, technical equipment: $10.4 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Colombian imports from India under the pharmaceuticals product category via a 12.9% gain in revenue then man-made staple fibers (up 4.5%).

Posting the severest declines among Colombia’s top 15 imported products were items made from iron or steel (down -60.6%), electronic equipment (down -35.3%), vehicles (down -29.6%), iron and steel as materials (down -28%), medical or technical equipment (down -20.3%) and plastics as a material (down -20%).

Colombia’s Main Imports from Japan

In 2020, Japan’s exports to Colombia amounted to $879.1 million or 2% of overall Colombian imports.

That dollar amount represents a -25.1% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 97.5% of Colombia’s imports from Japan.

Vehicles: $246.9 million
Iron and steel: $197.5 million
Machinery: $191.6 million
Medical, technical equipment: $51.6 million
Rubber: $50.3 million
Electronic equipment: $31.7 million
Pharmaceuticals: $22.7 million
Organic chemicals: $16.6 million
Plastics: $11.5 million
Other chemical goods: $9.4 million
Iron or steel products: $8.6 million
Oil seed: $3.5 million
Man-made staple fibers: $2.9 million
Photo/cinematographic goods: $2.6 million
Ores, slag, ash: $2.6 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Colombian imports from Japan under the man-made staple fibers product category via a 52.6% gain in revenue, pharmaceuticals (up 14.3%) and organic chemicals (up 13.2%).

Posting the severest declines among Colombia’s top 15 imported products were photographic or cinematographic goods (down -50.4%), vehicles: (down -41.8%), rubber (down -36.5%), items made from iron or steel (down -36.2%), machinery (down -25.2%) and medical or technical equipment (down -21.1%).

Colombia’s Main Imports from Spain

In 2020, Spain’s exports to Colombia amounted to $798.1 million or 1.8% of overall Colombian imports.

That dollar amount represents a -18.3% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 69.7% of Colombia’s imports from Spain.

Pharmaceuticals: $71.4 million
Machinery: $70.3 million
Other chemical goods: $47.2 million
Perfumes, cosmetics: $43.4 million
Electronic equipment: $41.9 million
Plastics: $39.8 million
Organic chemicals: $37.8 million
Iron and steel: $32.9 million
Tanning, dyeing extracts: $30.4 million
Iron or steel products: $29.5 million
Vehicles: $28.9 million
Animal/vegetable fats and oils: $22.9 million
Paper: $20.5 million
Ceramic products: $20.1 million
Salt, sulphur, stone, cement: $19.5 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Colombian imports from Spain under the animal or vegetable fats and oils product category via a 22.9% gain in revenue then plastics as a material (up 4.5%).

Posting the severest declines among Colombia’s top 15 imported products were vehicles (down -51.3%), machinery (down -40.6%), iron and steel as materials (down -29.8%), paper (down -28.5%), items made from iron or steel (down -24.3%) and pharmaceuticals (down -18%).

Colombia’s Main Imports from Ecuador

In 2020, Ecuador’s exports to Colombia amounted to $789.9 million or 1.8% of overall Colombian imports.

That dollar amount represents a -1.7% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 87% of Colombia’s imports from Ecuador.

Meat, seafood preparations: $188.8 million
Animal/vegetable fats and oils: $118.6 million
Wood: $78.6 million
Mineral fuels including oil: $67.7 million
Fish: $42.5 million
Iron or steel products: $35.5 million
Cereals: $33.4 million
Plastics: $26.8 million
Food waste, animal fodder: $21.1 million
Vehicles: $17.3 million
Rubber: $17.1 million
Footwear: $13.5 million
Other textiles, worn clothing: $9 million
Cocoa, cocoa preparations: $8.6 million
Vegetables: $8.4 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Colombian imports from Ecuador under the cereals product category via a 64% gain in revenue, vegetables (up 48.2%) and meat or seafood preparations (up 42%).

Posting the severest declines among Colombia’s top 15 imported products were vehicles (down -38.6%), plastics as a material (down -34.3%), food waste or animal fodder (down -18.2%), rubber (down -13.9%), miscellaneous textiles including worn clothing (down -13.8%) and items made from iron or steel (down -12.5%).

References

Independent insights and analysis presented in this article are based on researched facts and statistics sourced from the following educational sources.

International Trade Centre, Trade Map.

Richest Country Reports, Top 50 Countries by GDP per Capita

Wikipedia, Colombia, Borders of Colombia.

World’s Top Exports, Import News.

Colombia’s Main Imports by Top Supplier Countries