Colombia Industry

Industrial growth has given Colombia a strong internal mechanism for development and an effective way to supply internal demand.

Growth of the economy has translated into an expansion of disposable income for some segments of the Colombian population. Consequently, the retail sector has been developing at an unprecedented speed. This has led to an expansion of the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCGs) segment and a vast increase in modern retail space across the country....

After delays and several false starts, the Colombian gold mining segment gained momentum in 2016 with the awarding of environmental permits for four gold mines. This follows the March 2015 permit given to Canada-based Red Eagle Mining, which, little more than a year later, became the first medium-sized gold mine to enter into production in...

For a country with three Andean mountain chains and a history of gold and silver production, mining has remained a relatively small contributor to the modern Colombian economy. Between 2012 and 2015 the sector contributed only around 2% to GDP and 20% of exports, with the vast majority coming from two giant coal projects: the Cerrejón mine in...

Largely cut off from foreign investment during the 1980s and 1990s due to security concerns, Colombia developed a wide variety of local manufacturing businesses and brands. Companies such as drink maker Postobón, cement firm Cementos Argos or burger chain El Corral are household names in Colombia.

Fast-moving consumer goods (FMCGs) are often considered a recession-proof segment. Although margins are relatively thin, demand for basic items such as processed food, cosmetics and alcoholic drinks tends to rise steadily, especially in emerging markets with growing middle classes. According to a September 2015 report by the National...