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Content publication date

March 30, 2011

The product variety and identification of new markets has positioned the provincial department in exotic marketplaces like Yemen and Saudi Arabia.

Valle del Cauca's effort to diversify its markets and exportation offer, the search for added value and leveraging opportunities in the Pacific Basin, hand in hand with PROCOLOMBIA, continues to give results.

The most important one is that unconventional exports have consolidated themselves as the provincial department’s strength. According to the information by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Tourism, total exports registered an increase of 6.5% between 2009 and 2010, moving from US$2 billion to over US$2.2 billion, of which 91.8% were unconventional products.

Sugar and honey led the market with a 32% share, followed by precious metals with 22% and confections/candy with 19%.

Furthermore, out of 1,032 exporting companies in the region during the past year, 1,003 companies sold unconventional products abroad reaching 144 destinations mainly in the United States, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil and Chile. However, exotic markets like Yemen, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia and Taiwan have also been conquered.

Growth in the region has also been observed by the number of destinations. The region exported to 89 countries in 2008 and the number climbed to 148 in 2010, positioning unconventional exports above traditional exports once again, reaching 144 destinations over 34 destinations reached by traditional exported products.

The positive balance is thanks to thorough market studies through which PROCOLOMBIA has managed to identify opportunities in the sale of confections, snacks and bakery products, and agro-industrial mill products.

Also cosmetics, construction materials and auto parts in manufacturing; leather, leather accessories, casual wear, jeans, underwear and other garments; and BPO and health care in the services sector.