Colombian economy

Colombia’s Banco de la Republica 2018 Survey: Peso/Dollar Range COP$2,800 to COP$3,200

Medellin Herald January 18, 2018

The latest monthly survey of leading banks and financial firms by Colombia’s Banco de la Republica (the national bank) finds that the Colombian peso is likely to trade in a range of COP$2,800 to COP$3,200 per US$1 during 2018, with a foreseen average of COP$2,995/US$1 by year-end. The monthly

Colombian economy

Colombia GDP to Rise 2.6% in 2018: Latest United Nations ECLAC Study

Medellin Herald January 16, 2018

In a new study released January 15, the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) finds that Colombia’s gross domestic product (GDP) is likely to rebound to 2.6% growth in 2018, up from 1.8% in 2017. “GDP is projected to expand by 2.6% in 2018 against a backdrop of lower interest […]

Colombian economy

Mining, Energy Still Crucial to Fix Colombia’s Weak Finances: Fedesarollo

Medellin Herald December 13, 2017

Colombia’s top economic think-tank — Fundación para la Educación Superior y el Desarrollo (Fedesarollo) — on December 13 unveiled a report which finds that mining and energy projects will continue to be crucial to restoration of slumping national government finances. Antioquia is Colombia’s biggest gold-mining department — and hence figures into the

Colombian economy

Colombia Exports to Jump 16.5% in 2017; Big Improvement over 2016

Medellin Herald November 1, 2017

The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) announced October 30 in a new report that Colombia’s exports are forecast to rise by 16.5% for full-year 2017, up sharply from a 12.8% decline in 2016. Meanwhile, imports to Colombia are expected to rise 5.2% this year, up from a 16.9% decline last year, […]

Colombian economy

Coffee Helps Colombia’s 2017 Exports Rebound, but Manufacturing Lags

Medellin Herald September 29, 2017

The latest report from Colombia’s national economic statistics agency (DANE – Departamento Administrative Nacional de Estadistica) shows that Colombian exports through August 2017 are up 15.7% year-on-year and 19.5% for the first eight months of 2017. Antioquia once again leads all departments in the nation with an 18.8% share in total dollar value of exports […]

Colombian economy

Medellin Industrial Production Drops 6.8% in First-Half 2017

Medellin Herald September 1, 2017

The latest report from Colombia’s national Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) shows that industrial production in metropolitan Medellin dropped 10% year-on-year in second quarter (2Q) 2017 and has fallen 6.8% through first-half (1H) 2017 (see chart, above). A sharp drop in textiles output (down 25%) and a 19.8% drop in “other manufactured goods”

Colombian economy

Colombia Making ‘Remarkably Smooth Adjustment’ to Economic Shocks: IMF

Medellin Herald June 15, 2017

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) announced in a report issued May 31 that Colombia’s economy is starting to rebound – and it’s performing much better than its neighbors following the oil-price collapse nearly three years ago. As a result, real gross domestic product (GDP) growth would rebound to 2.3% this year, up from 2.0% last […]

Colombian economy

Antioquia’s Exports Rise 14.7% in 2017, Colombia Up 16%: DANE

Medellin Herald April 4, 2017

The latest report from Colombia’s economic statistics agency (DANE) shows that Antioquia’s exports rose 14.7% year-on-year in the first two months of 2017 — and Antioquia likewise continues to surpass all Colombian departments in total share of exports, at 19.4%. The single biggest reason for the big boost in Antioquia exports was the rise in […]

Colombian economy

Fitch Upgrades Colombia’s Debt Risk Rating to ‘Stable’

Medellin Herald March 13, 2017

Thanks to the Colombian government’s recent tax reform law (see Medellin Herald on December 29, 2016), Wall Street bond rater Fitch has just decided to upgrade Colombia’s debt-risk outlook to “stable,” up from its former “negative” rating. Reacting to the decision, Colombia’s Treasury Minister (Ministro de Hacienda) Mauricio Cardenas said that the Fitch rating will

Colombian economy

Colombia’s 2016 Full-Year GDP Up 2%, Free-Trade Exports Improve Year-on-Year

Medellin Herald February 24, 2017

Colombia’s national economic statistics agency (DANE) announced February 22 that gross domestic product (PIB in Spanish initials) grew 2% year-on-year in 2016, down from 3.1% in 2015. Financial services (up 11%) and real-estate (up 3.2%) led all growth categories, while construction jumped 4.1% and industrial manufacturing rose 3%, according to DANE. Colombia has seen 17