You are in:

See the latest news in our industry

Find articles that create and show an overview of business in Colombia. Here you will see them organized from the most recent to the oldest, identified by the following tags:

Content publication date

September 13, 2022

exports

The recent results of non-mining-energy exports of Colombian products to Canada, such as coffee, flowers, or fruits like bananas, not only show that there is more and more room for new products and new companies to arrive but also that the FTA signed with Canada has been commercially successful. Learn more about the Colombian offer of products in Canada and the results of exports.

Eleven years have passed since Colombia and Canada signed the FTA. Bilateral relations between the two countries have resulted in an increase in exports and an increasing supply of Colombian products. As a result, certain products and companies have become part of the regular supply of goods and services in the Canadian market. Learn more about which Colombian products are present in the Canadian market and how Colombian exports to Canada are progressing in terms of results.

Results of Colombian exports to Canada

Indeed, trade relations between the two countries have experienced substantial growth since the signing of the FTA. Particularly in non-mining-energy Colombian exports to Canada, an upward trend is evident. In 2021, they registered a total of US$422 million, 36.2% more than in 2020, with 507 companies reporting exports over US$10,000. The above is given thanks to various factors such as, for example, coffee prices - one of the top Colombian products in Canada - and overall growth in the volume of exports, which was 33%, according to Statistics Canada.

Non-mining-energy products have been gradually gaining ground since the signing of the FTA; in 2011, they accounted for 40% of total Colombian sales to Canada, and by the end of 2021, they already accounted for 60%. Recent results show that the trend is continuing, as only in the first half of 2022 (as of May) did non-mining-energy exports total US$223 million, which is 35.0% more than in the same period of 2021. There are already 407 companies with exports over US$10,000, only 100 less than in the previous course. The results are encouraging and provide a positive and constantly growing business climate that will allow the arrival of more Colombian goods and services companies to Canada.

Presence of Colombian companies and products on the Canadian market

Since the FTA came into force, Colombia has exported 479 new products to Canada for amounts exceeding US$1 billion, taking as reference the period from August 2011 to December 2021. Of the products mentioned above, 233 belong to metalworking and other industries, 89 to agri-food, 88 to fashion/textiles, and 69 to chemicals and life sciences. Among the most outstanding products are coffee, flowers, and bananas. In the case of coffee, the Canadian market represents US$1,667 million annually, of which US$1,480 million corresponds to the coffee bean or ground coffee category. Juan Valdez recently arrived in the country with 170 clients, including retail chains (Walmart, Whole Foods, or CVS Pharmacy), hotels, restaurants, and specialized retail markets. On the flower side, the Colombian presence is significant, as, in 2022, six out of every ten flowers arriving in Canada for Valentine's Day were Colombian, especially roses, carnations, and alstroemeria. In the past year, imports of Colombian flowers grew by nearly 53%, maintaining its position as the leading supplier of the product to Canada. Concerning fruits, its growth goes hand in hand with the Canadian public's increased interest in fresh fruit since, according to ProColombia, consumer tastes focus mainly on exotic and ethnic flavors. That fact has led to a growing interest in the consumption of tropical and organic fruits, especially bananas, strawberries, pineapple, and papaya, which are even more popular with the Canadian public when they are practical, easy to carry, and easy-to-prepare presentations.

Similarly, companies such as Alpina, Colombina, and Nutresa have a presence, through distributors, in Canada, or products such as Pony Malta, which arrives through Capital Foods. Representing other sectors are the goods and services of companies such as SunDevs, a software and IT company; Clarios Andina, producer and marketer of auto parts; Rimax, with plastic boxes and organizers; and Croydon, a company that stands out in industrial safety footwear, particularly firefighter boots. 

More and more Colombian products are reaching the Canadian market. Colombia expects to ratify the upswing in trade relations with Canada with a goal of 15% annual growth in sales to that country, which is part of the long-term objective of doubling exports over five years.