Trade Overview

Colombia is an emerging economy that is providing California with a quickly expanding export market and opportunity for future collaboration. Located on the northwestern coast of South America, Colombia has a nominal GDP of $417 billion and a population of 52.7 million as of 2024. U.S. Department of Commerce  

Colombia was the second country in South America to join the OECD, becoming a member in 2020, a decade after Chile.

U.S. – Colombia Trade

Since 2007, both U.S. and California exports to Colombia have nearly doubled. In 2024, the United States exported $18.70 billion of goods to Colombia, with two-way trade amounting to $36.56 billion. Top exports were petroleum & coal products ($3.86 billion), chemicals ($3.77 billion), agricultural products ($2.05 billion), processed food ($1.75 billion), and computer and electronic products ($1.45 billion).

The U.S. imported $17.87 billion of goods from Colombia including: oil and gas ($5.86 billion), agricultural products ($3.28 billion), primary metal manufactures ($1.94 billion), petroleum and coal products ($1.65 million), and processed foods ($956 million).

California – Colombia Trade

In 2024, Californian goods exports to Colombia totaled $484 million. Since 2006, exports to Colombia have nearly tripled and as of 2024, becoming California’s 38th largest export market in 2024. Top California exports to Colombia consisted of computer and electronic products ($163 million), chemicals ($66 million), processed foods ($61 million), miscellaneous manufactures ($56 million), and non-electrical machinery ($33 million). U.S. Department of Commerce

Total imports from Colombia in the same year were $1.54 billion. The top five imports from Colombia to California include oil and gas ($1.01 billion), agricultural products ($314 million), processed foods ($94 million), chemicals ($21 million), and computer and electronic products ($18 million). U.S. Department of Commerce

FDI – Colombia

According to 2023 figures, U.S. direct investment into Colombia was $8.4 billion and Colombian FDI based on balance of payments and direct investment position was $1.2 billion (Bureau of Economic Analysis). As of 2023, Colombia was the ninth fastest growing source of FDI into the US. Colombian FDI into the U.S. supported 9,700 jobs and contributed a value of $138 million to expanding U.S. exports. Top industry sectors of Colombian FDI were business services, building materials, plastics, software and IT services, food and beverages, and consumer products. Select USA

More Articles:

USCIB Congratulates Colombia on Formally Becoming OECD Member
U.S. Council for International Business, April 2020

Preliminary Overview of the Economies of Latin America and the Caribbean
ECLAC, December 2019

Colombia on the Mend, but SoCal Can’t Do Much to Help, Daily Bulletin, February 2, 2018
The largest group of Americans of South American origin are those from Colombia, and the fourth-largest population of Colombian-Americans is in California. Some 33,000 were living in Los Angeles and Orange counties, according to the 2010 Census.

Colombia Applauds U.S. Congress for Approving Funding for Peace Colombia in FY2017 Spending Bill
Embassy of Colombia in the United States, May 5, 2017

U.S. Chamber Launches U.S.-Colombia Business CouncilMarch 15, 2017
On Wednesday, March 15, the Chamber announced the launch of the U.S.-Colombia Business Council, an organization that endeavors to build upon already close economic ties between the two countries in order to foster a stronger, more robust commercial partnership.The Council will examine impediments to expanding trade and investment and propose solutions; promote commercial opportunities for American and Colombian workers, farmers, and companies; and support economic growth in Colombia, particularly through post-conflict initiatives. The Council aims to work with both governments to set policy priorities and share best practices to foster both countries’ economic competitiveness in the global marketplace. Announcing the Business Council launch, Myron Brilliant, Executive Vice President and Head of International Affairs remarked: “Colombia, having emerged as a leader in the hemisphere, has a fascinating economic story to tell, and the Chamber is excited to be a part of the next chapter through the work of the U.S.-Colombia Business Council. Colombia is a critical market for many American companies, so we are eager to build on the progress achieved by the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement, step up our engagement, and set our eyes on the future of this partnership.” The impetus for the formation of the Council was a December 2016 advisory forum in Cartagena, Colombia, that brought together more than 30 U.S. and Colombian CEOs in an event hosted by Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and organized by the U.S. Chamber, the Embassy of Colombia, the National Business Association of Colombia (ANDI), and AmCham Colombia. A U.S. government delegation, led by then-Vice President Joe Biden, also played a key role in the forum. At that meeting, the U.S. Chamber and ANDI signed a memorandum of understanding that laid the foundation for greater private-sector cooperation and for the formation of a council. The Chamber has a long track record of support for the trade relationship with Colombia. The U.S. is Colombia’s largest trading partner, representing 31.8 percent of Colombia’s exports in 2016. Colombia is the United States’ third largest trade partner in Latin America. U.S. companies invested $6.2 billion in Colombia in 2015. The U.S.-Colombia Business Council is comprised of more than a dozen companies representing a broad cross-section of industries and sectors.

US Stands to Gain from Colombia’s Ongoing Rise to Prosperity 
February 15, 2017

Colombia Final Peace Accord
(August 25, 2016) “After over fifty years of conflict and four years of difficult negotiations, a final peace accord has been reached by the Colombian government and the FARC. The United States strongly supports this accord that can achieve a just and lasting peace for all Colombians.”
State Department, August 26, 2016

Building Peace: Colombian Peace Presents New U.S. Business Opportunities
ITA, August 15, 2016 

Trade Policy Review: Colombia
WTO, June 2012

President Santos Welcomes Formation of CEO Advisory Board
U.S. Business Leaders to Bring Expertise to Colombia’s Post-conflict Economy
Embassy of Colombia in the U.S., February 6, 2016

CalChamber Resources

• American Chamber of Commerce in Colombia
• Colombian Consulates in California
• International Trade FAQs
  • Obtaining a Certificate of Origin
  • Setting up a Business in California
  • Country Studies – Foreign Market Sources