Excala/Compañía de Empaques 3Q 2025 Profits Jump 78% Year-on-Year
Medellin-based specialty fibers and packaging manufacturer Grupo Excala/Compañía de Empaques on November 13 posted a 78% year-over-year hike in third quarter (3Q) 2025 net income, hitting COP$7.8 billion (US$2 million), up from COP$4.3 billion (US$1.14 million) in 3Q 2024.
The profit rise came mainly as a result of a reduction in cost penalties that last year had hurt its fique natural-fiber line, used for various packaging products, according to the company.
Sales for 3Q 2025 also rose 8.5% year-on-year, to COP$342 billion (US$91 million), according to the company.
As for the first nine months of 2025, net income has soared by 283%, to COP$23 billion (US$6 million), versus COP$6.3 billion (US$1.6 million) for nine-months 2024.
The improvements came despite “several economic, market, and strategic challenges” as “interest rates began to decline in the last quarter, affecting financial expenses, especially in our marketing business (Texcomercial), an activity that is highly sensitive to these changes,” according to the company
“Meanwhile, the peso-dollar exchange rate showed high volatility, driven mainly by the devaluation of emerging market currencies against the U.S. dollar and the additional premium of the Colombian peso derived from political risk. This situation impacted exchange rate differences and the cost of raw materials in the second half of the year.
“In the domestic [Colombian] market, the increase in raw material prices during the first quarter was mitigated thanks to the company’s planned supply strategy, which allowed it to cope with the slow growth in consumption at the beginning of the year.
“However, commercial activity is facing a moment of uncertainty due to the imposition of tariffs by the United States, affecting global markets.
“As part of our internationalization strategy, we continue to explore business opportunities outside of Colombia and strengthen our presence in Mexico. In this process, we relocated our Guadalajara operations to a new location, tripled our industrial area, and consolidated our team.
“However, the relocation and the devaluation of the Mexican peso against the dollar negatively impacted this unit’s financial results,” the company added.
On the environmental front, “the ‘Eco’ line of polypropylene (PP) bags was developed, incorporating up to 20% recycled material and a higher mineral filler content. This innovation contributes to reducing the carbon footprint, offering a more sustainable alternative without compromising the quality and durability of the packaging,” according to Excala.
In its agricultural packaging division, “a new portfolio of agricultural netting was launched, designed for insect control, hail protection, wind impact reduction, and shade optimization, providing more specialized solutions for producers,” according to the company.
As for its construction and infrastructure business segements, “containment products were launched, including fabrics, sacks, and civil bags,” according to the company.
