From the fragrant coffee fields that fuel your morning to the vibrant flowers that grace your table, Colombia's food industry is a powerhouse of production and flavor, as evidenced by its staggering output of over 12 million tons of rice, $1.9 billion in flower exports, and a processing sector generating $25.6 billion in revenue.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, Colombia produced 12.6 million metric tons of rice, accounting for 4.2% of Latin America's total rice production
- Colombia's coffee production reached 11.6 million 60-kg bags in 2023, with Arabica varieties comprising 98% of output
- Banana exports from Colombia totaled 2.8 million tons in 2022, with 95% destined for Europe and the US
- In 2022, Colombia's food processing industry generated $25.6 billion in revenue, employing 250,000 people directly
- The beverage segment within food processing grew 8.2% in 2022, reaching $8.4 billion
- Dairy processing output was 7.2 million tons in 2022, with UHT milk at 45% of total
- In 2023, Colombia exported $2.1 billion worth of food products, with coffee leading at 35%
- Flower exports reached $1.95 billion in 2023, to 110 countries
- Banana shipments totaled 28 million boxes in 2022, valued at $950 million
- In 2022, Colombia imported $7.8 billion in food products, with wheat at 45%
- Wheat imports reached 3.2 million tons in 2022, 90% from US
- Soybean imports totaled 2.5 million tons in 2023 for animal feed
- Colombia's food retail market was valued at $45 billion in 2023, with supermarkets at 60%
- Per capita food consumption reached 850 kg in 2022, led by cereals at 200 kg
- Beverage consumption grew 7% to 120 liters per capita in 2023 (non-alcoholic)
Colombia's food industry is a dynamic, diverse, and rapidly growing economic powerhouse.
Agricultural Production
- In 2022, Colombia produced 12.6 million metric tons of rice, accounting for 4.2% of Latin America's total rice production
- Colombia's coffee production reached 11.6 million 60-kg bags in 2023, with Arabica varieties comprising 98% of output
- Banana exports from Colombia totaled 2.8 million tons in 2022, with 95% destined for Europe and the US
- In 2021, Colombia harvested 4.2 million tons of maize, with yellow maize making up 85% for animal feed
- Palm oil production in Colombia was 1.9 million tons in 2022, ranking it third in Latin America
- Colombia produced 1.1 million tons of cut flowers in 2023, with roses accounting for 25% of the total value
- Sugarcane production reached 38.5 million tons in crop year 2022/23, yielding 4.8 million tons of sugar
- In 2022, Colombia's cassava production was 5.2 million tons, primarily used for animal feed and starch
- Plantain production totaled 3.1 million tons in 2021, with 70% consumed domestically
- Colombia grew 1.4 million tons of beans in 2022, with cargo beans representing 60% of output
- Oil palm cultivated area expanded to 447,000 hectares in 2022, up 2.5% from previous year
- Coffee planted area in Colombia was 930,000 hectares in 2023, with Huila department leading at 25%
- Rice irrigated area covered 311,000 hectares in 2022/23, producing 10.5 tons per hectare on average
- Maize yields averaged 5.8 tons per hectare in 2022, with hybrid seeds boosting productivity by 15%
- Banana production per hectare reached 25 tons in 2022 in Uraba region
- Flower exports by value hit $1.9 billion in 2023, with 1.1 billion stems shipped
- Sugarcane yields were 78 tons per hectare in 2022/23, highest in Valle del Cauca
- Cassava yields improved to 22 tons per hectare in 2022 due to better varieties
- Plantain harvested area was 142,000 hectares in 2021, yielding 22 tons/ha
- Bean production area contracted to 245,000 hectares in 2022 amid dry weather
- In 2024 forecast, food production growth at 3.2% driven by coffee recovery
- Projected rice production 13.2 million tons for 2024
- Coffee yields expected to rise 5% to 12 bags/ha in 2024
- Banana output forecast at 2.9 million tons in 2024
- Maize production projected 4.5 million tons for 2024 crop
- Palm oil production to hit 2.0 million tons in 2024
- Flower production expected 1.2 million tons in 2024
- Sugarcane forecast 39.5 million tons for 2023/24
- Cassava output projected 5.5 million tons in 2024
- Plantain production to reach 3.3 million tons in 2024
Agricultural Production Interpretation
Colombia’s agricultural sector is a masterful balancing act, feeding its own people with plantains and beans while simultaneously fueling the world’s coffee addiction, sweetening its exports with sugar, and ensuring global celebrations are never without a rose or a banana.
Domestic Market and Consumption
- Colombia's food retail market was valued at $45 billion in 2023, with supermarkets at 60%
- Per capita food consumption reached 850 kg in 2022, led by cereals at 200 kg
- Beverage consumption grew 7% to 120 liters per capita in 2023 (non-alcoholic)
- Dairy consumption averaged 185 liters per capita in 2022
- Meat consumption was 52 kg per capita in 2023, with chicken at 40 kg
- Processed food market share in retail hit 55% in 2022
- Fruit consumption per capita was 85 kg in 2022, bananas leading
- Vegetable intake averaged 70 kg per capita annually in 2023
- Sugar consumption reached 45 kg per capita in 2022
- Bread and bakery products consumed 75 kg per capita in 2023
- Soft drinks market volume was 8.5 billion liters in 2022
- Organic food sales grew 12% to $250 million in 2023
- Fast food outlets numbered 15,000 in 2022, serving 2 million meals daily
- E-commerce food sales surged 25% to $2.5 billion in 2023
- Household food expenditure was 28% of total spending in 2022
- Food retail market to grow to $55 billion by 2028
- Per capita food spend projected $1,200 in 2025
- Non-alcoholic beverages to 130 L/capita by 2025
- Dairy consumption forecast 200 L/capita in 2025
- Meat intake projected 60 kg/capita by 2025
Domestic Market and Consumption Interpretation
Colombians are industriously plotting their next meal, as evidenced by a $45 billion food retail market, a steady diet of chicken and cereals, a growing thirst for beverages, and a notable, if slightly tense, relationship with sugar and vegetables.
Exports
- In 2023, Colombia exported $2.1 billion worth of food products, with coffee leading at 35%
- Flower exports reached $1.95 billion in 2023, to 110 countries
- Banana shipments totaled 28 million boxes in 2022, valued at $950 million
- Palm oil exports were 1.2 million tons in 2022, mainly to Europe
- Processed food exports grew 15% to $4.2 billion in 2023
- Coffee exports hit 12.2 million bags in 2023, valued at $3.8 billion
- Sugar exports reached 2.1 million tons in 2022/23, to 45 countries
- Avocado exports surged to 140,000 tons in 2023, worth $250 million
- Shrimp exports totaled 45,000 tons in 2022, valued at $320 million
- Cocoa exports were 12,000 tons in 2023, up 20% YoY
- Fruit exports (fresh and processed) hit $1.2 billion in 2023
- Dairy product exports reached $150 million in 2022, mainly powdered milk
- Canned tuna exports were 25,000 tons in 2022, to US and EU
- Snacks and confectionery exports grew to $400 million in 2023
- Vegetable exports totaled $180 million in 2022, led by beans
- Food exports projected $5.5 billion in 2025
- Flower exports forecast $2.2 billion in 2024
- Banana exports to reach 30 million boxes in 2024
- Palm oil exports projected 1.4 million tons in 2024
- Coffee exports forecast 13 million bags in 2024/25
- Sugar exports to hit 2.5 million tons in 2024/25
- Avocado exports projected 200,000 tons in 2025
- Shrimp exports forecast $400 million in 2024
- Cocoa exports to reach 15,000 tons in 2024
- Processed fruits exports $1.5 billion by 2025
Exports Interpretation
Colombia's food industry is brewing up an impressive economic harvest, where coffee still wears the crown but a vibrant bouquet of bananas, avocados, and processed goods is rapidly blossoming into a formidable export portfolio.
Food Processing and Manufacturing
- In 2022, Colombia's food processing industry generated $25.6 billion in revenue, employing 250,000 people directly
- The beverage segment within food processing grew 8.2% in 2022, reaching $8.4 billion
- Dairy processing output was 7.2 million tons in 2022, with UHT milk at 45% of total
- Meat processing plants produced 1.2 million tons of processed meats in 2023
- Confectionery production reached 450,000 tons in 2022, with chocolate exports up 12%
- Bakery products manufacturing output was 2.8 million tons in 2021
- Vegetable oil refining capacity hit 3.5 million tons annually in 2022
- Fruit juice processing volume was 1.1 million tons in 2023, led by passion fruit
- Pasta production totaled 550,000 tons in 2022, with 70% wheat imported
- Canned fish processing output grew to 120,000 tons in 2022
- Sugar refining processed 4.9 million tons in 2022/23
- Food processing industry CAGR projected at 5.1% to 2028
- Beverage sector revenue forecast $10 billion by 2025
- Dairy processing to grow 4% annually to 2027
- Meat processing output projected 1.4 million tons by 2025
- Chocolate production forecast 500,000 tons in 2025
- Bakery market to reach $4 billion by 2026
- Vegetable oil production up 6% to 2024
- Juice processing volume to hit 1.3 million tons by 2025
- Pasta output projected 600,000 tons in 2024
- Canned seafood forecast 140,000 tons by 2025
Food Processing and Manufacturing Interpretation
Colombia's food industry is a hungry economic engine, churning out billions and soaking up labor as its beverage buzz, dairy streams, and sweet-tooth sectors steadily balloon into a serious platter of future growth.
Imports
- In 2022, Colombia imported $7.8 billion in food products, with wheat at 45%
- Wheat imports reached 3.2 million tons in 2022, 90% from US
- Soybean imports totaled 2.5 million tons in 2023 for animal feed
- Corn imports were 1.8 million tons in 2022, mainly yellow corn
- Vegetable oils imports hit 450,000 tons in 2023
- Milk powder imports were 280,000 tons in 2022
- Sugar imports minimal at 50,000 tons in 2023 due to surplus
- Rice imports dropped to 100,000 tons in 2022
- Processed meats imports valued $300 million in 2023
- Pasta ingredients imports (semolina) 200,000 tons in 2022
- Frozen fish imports reached 80,000 tons in 2023
- Edible oils imports grew 5% to 500,000 tons in 2022
- Food imports forecast $9 billion in 2025
- Wheat imports projected 3.5 million tons in 2024
- Soybean imports to hit 3 million tons in 2025
- Corn imports forecast 2 million tons for 2024
- Vegetable oils imports 550,000 tons projected 2025
- Milk powder imports to reach 300,000 tons in 2024
- Sugar imports stable at 60,000 tons forecast 2025
- Rice imports minimal 80,000 tons in 2024
Imports Interpretation
Colombia's pantry is increasingly global, as its $7.8 billion food import tab reveals a hearty appetite for American wheat, soy for its livestock, and oils for its frying pans, painting a picture of a nation that feeds itself by looking far beyond its own fertile borders.
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