Colombian imports totaled US$64.1 billion in 2024, up by 47.4% compared to $43.5 billion in the South American country’s spending five years earlier for 2020.

Year over year, Colombian import purchases slowed to a 2.1% gain starting from $62.8 billion during 2023.

Based on the average exchange rate for 2024, the Colombian peso appreciated by 5.9% against the US dollar from 2023 to 2024. Colombia’s stronger local currency makes its imports paid for in stronger US dollars relatively less expensive when converted starting from the Colombian peso.

Colombia’s Largest International Suppliers

The latest available country-specific data shows that 56.4% of products imported into Colombia was supplied by exporters in: United States of America (13.9% of the Colombian total), mainland China (10.7%), Germany (5.9%), United Kingdom (3.4%), Japan (3.09%), France (3.08%), India (2.92%), Hong Kong (2.9%), Netherlands (2.64%), South Korea (2.62%), Mexico (2.6%) and Italy (2.56%).

Applying a continental lens, almost two-fifths (38.5%) of Colombia’s total imports by value were purchased from trade partners based in Asia. European countries satisfied 34.8% of import purchases by Colombia. Another 18.9% worth of goods originated from North America, with 3.4% coming from exporters in Latin America excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean.

Smaller percentages of Colombian imports were furnished by suppliers in Africa (2.9%) and Oceania (1.5%) led by Australia and New Zealand.

Given Colombia’s population of 52.7 million people, its total $64.1 billion in 2024 imports translates to some $1,225 in yearly product demand from every person in South America’s second-most populated country. That dollar metric outpaces the average $1,200 per capita one year earlier in 2023.

Colombia’s Top 10 Imports

The following product groups represent the highest dollar value in Colombia’s import purchases during 2024. Also shown is the percentage share each product category represents in terms of overall imports into Colombia.

1. Machinery including computers: US$7 billion (11% of total imports)
2. Electrical machinery, equipment: $6.2 billion (9.7%)
3. Mineral fuels including oil: $6.2 billion (9.6%)
4. Vehicles: $5 billion (7.9%)
5. Pharmaceuticals: $3.9 billion (6%)
6. Plastics, plastic articles: $3 billion (4.6%)
7. Cereals: $2.4 billion (3.8%)
8. Organic chemicals: $2.4 billion (3.7%)
9. Iron, steel: $2 billion (3%)
10. Optical, technical, medical apparatus: $1.9 billion (3%)

Colombia’s top 10 imports accounted for 62.3% of the overall value of its product purchases from other countries.

Purchases of iron and steel represent the fastest grower among Colombia’s top 10 import categories, up 14.1% from 2023 to 2024.

In second place were imports of plastics, both as materials and items made from plastic, via a 12.3% advance ahead of imported machinery including computers’ 9.3% upturn.

The decliners year over year were Colombian imports of cereals (down -11.6% from 2023) then mineral fuels including oil (down -4.7%).

Please note that the results listed above are at the 2-digit Harmonized Tariff System code level. Information presented below is at the more granular 4-digit level.

At the more detailed level, Colombia’s top 10 imported products are refined petroleum oils (7.2% of the Colombian total), cars (4.5%), phone devices including smartphones (3.7%), medication mixes in dosage (also 3.7%), corn (2.5%), computers including optical readers (2.1%), blood fractions including antisera (1.9%), petroleum gases (1.6%), aircraft or spacecraft (1.3%) then solid residues including soya-bean oilcake (1.2%).

Combined, those 10 major Colombian imports approached a third (29.7%) of the country’s overall spending on imported products in 2024.

Colombia’s Main Machinery Imports

In 2024, Colombian importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of machinery including computers.

1. Computers, optical readers: US$1.4 billion (up 23.2% from 2023)
2. Heavy machinery (bulldozers, excavators, road rollers): $422 million (up 18.7%)
3. Liquid pumps and elevators: $311 million (up 6.4%)
4. Centrifuges, filters and purifiers: $301.8 million (down -2.5%)
5. Taps, valves, similar appliances: $301.1 million (up 9.8%)
6. Air or vacuum pumps: $291.4 million (down -3.4%)
7. Refrigerators, freezers: $242 million (up 27.6%)
8. Transmission shafts, gears, clutches: $232.8 million (up 2.1%)
9. Piston engine parts: $228.2 million (up 3%)
10. Washing machines: $220.4 million (up 53.2%)

Among these import subcategories, Colombian purchases of washing machines (up 53.2%), refrigerators and freezers (up 27.6%) then computers including optical readers (up 23.2%) grew at the fastest pace from 2023 to 2024.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of machinery-related imports among Colombian businesses and consumers.

Colombia’s Main Imports of Electrical Products

In 2024, Colombian importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of electrical products including consumer electronics.

1. Phone devices including smartphones: US$2.4 billion (up 5.1% from 2023)
2. TV receivers/monitors/projectors: $517.5 million (up 14.3%)
3. Insulated wire/cable: $368.6 million (up 1.7%)
4. Electrical converters/power units: $259 million (down -22.7%)
5. Electric generating sets, converters: $225.1 million (up 55%)
6. Lower-voltage switches, fuses: $202.2 million (up 12.8%)
7. Solar power diodes/semi-conductors: $193.9 million (down -53%)
8. TV/radio/radar device parts: $187.3 million (up 42.8%)
9. Microphones/headphones/amps: $185.8 million (up 20.5%)
10. Electric storage batteries: $172 million (up 22.1%)

Among these import subcategories, Colombian purchases of electric generating sets and converters (up 55%), television, radio or radar device parts (up 42.8%), then electric storage batteries (up 22.1%) grew at the fastest pace from 2023 to 2024.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of electronics-related imports among Colombian businesses and consumers.

Colombia’s Main Imports of Fuels

In 2024, Colombian importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of mineral fuels including oil.

1. Processed petroleum oils: US$4.6 billion (down -10.5% from 2023)
2. Petroleum gases: $1.1 billion (up 122.3%)
3. Crude oil: $460 million (down -40.1%)
4. Petroleum jelly, mineral waxes: $24.9 million (up 6%)
5. Coal tar oils (high temperature distillation): $11.2 million (up 19.4%)
6. Coal, solid fuels made from coal: $4.8 million (down -34.1%)
7. Peat: $4.1 million (down -15.3%)
8. Petroleum oil residues: $3.2 million (down -24.5%)
9. Electrical energy: $2.4 million (down -92.7%)
10. Asphalt/petroleum bitumen mixes: $1.3 million (up 9.7%)

Among these import subcategories, Colombian purchases of petroleum gases (up 122.3%), high-temperature distilled coal tar oils (up 19.4%), then asphalt or petroleum bitumen mixes (up 9.7%) grew at the fastest pace from 2023 to 2024.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of mineral fuels including oil imports among Colombian businesses and consumers.

Colombia’s Main Imports of Vehicles

In 2024, Colombian importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of vehicles and related products.

1. Cars: US$2.9 billion (up 4.4% from 2023)
2. Trucks: $745.3 million (up 9.7%)
3. Automobile parts/accessories: $560 million (down -8%)
4. Tractors: $194.4 million (down -12%)
5. Motorcycles: $170.4 million (up 29.9%)
6. Motorcycle parts/accessories: $157.4 million (up 18.3%)
7. Chassis fitted with engine: $104.8 million (up 3%)
8. Bicycles, other non-motorized cycles: $51.1 million (up 20.7%)
9. Special purpose vehicles: $50.1 million (up 21.7%)
10. Trailers: $38.2 million (up 10.2%)

Among these import subcategories, Colombian purchases of motorcycles (up 29.9%), special purpose vehicles (up 21.7%), then bicycles plus other non-motorized cycles (up 20.7%) grew at the fastest pace from 2023 to 2024.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of vehicles-related imports among Colombian businesses and consumers.
 

See also Colombia’s Top Trading Partners, Colombia’s Top 10 Exports, Peru’s Top Trading Partners, China’s Top Trading Partners and Top US Trading Partners

Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, Trade CentreCountry Profiles. Accessed on August 29, 2025

International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Database (GDP based on Purchasing Power Parity). Accessed on August 29, 2025

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on August 29, 2025

Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, Exchange Rates data (Domestic Currency per U.S. dollar, 2000-2024). Accessed on August 29, 2025