Foreign trade - Exports
At the end of the third quarter of
1999, Colombian exports reached US$8.3 billion, an 1.2% increase as compared with the same
period in 1998. This behavior is primarily explained by an increase in traditional exports
(US$278 million ,7.1%), particularly petroleum, emeralds and nickel. The increase in
petroleum sales (US$865 million) was due to the rise in international prices. This
recovery contrast with the falling of coffee (US$462 million), coal (US$117 million), gold
(US$16 million). On the other hand, non-traditional exports fell by 4.1% (US$4.1 billion).
The reduction in exports of non-traditional goods was due to the decline in the sales of
industrial goods, especially food, beverages and tobacco, transport, machinery and
equipment. On the contrary, agricultural exports grew as compared with the same period of
1998. The United States was the main destination for Colombian exports, purchasing 47.9%
of the total, followed by the European Union with 15.9% and the Andean Group with 14.4%.
For 1999, exports are expected to grow by 8,9%.
EXPORTS
EXPORTS |
1999* % |
U.S.A. |
47.9 |
EUROPEAN UNION |
15.9 |
ANDEAN GROUP |
14.4 |
JAPAN |
2.2 |
REST |
21.8 |
* Up to September |
|
|
US$ Millions FOB
YEARS |
Total
exports |
Variation
% |
Non
traditional exports |
Variation
% |
Traditional
exports |
Variation
% |
1987 |
4,914.5 |
-2.9 |
1,555.7 |
14.4 |
3,358.8 |
-9.2 |
1988 |
4,964.9 |
1.0 |
1,870.9 |
20.3 |
3,094.0 |
-7.9 |
1989 |
5,710.9 |
15.0 |
2,147.8 |
14.8 |
3,563.1 |
15.2 |
1990 |
6,720.6 |
17.7 |
2,664.3 |
24.0 |
4,056.3 |
13.8 |
1991 |
7,113.8 |
5.9 |
3,543.2 |
33.0 |
3,570.6 |
-12.0 |
1992 |
6,900.0 |
-3.0 |
3,564.6 |
0.6 |
3,335.4 |
-6.6 |
1993 |
7,115.9 |
3.1 |
3,984.4 |
11.8 |
3,131.5 |
-6.1 |
1994 |
8,478.8 |
19.2 |
4,469.2 |
12.2 |
4,009.6 |
28.0 |
1995 |
10,125.9 |
19.4 |
5,160.2 |
15.5 |
4,965.7 |
23.8 |
1996 |
10,653.8 |
5.2 |
4,905.5 |
-4.9 |
5,690.8 |
14.6 |
1997 |
11,556.2 |
7.2 |
5,463.8 |
6.9 |
6,092.4 |
7.4 |
1998 p |
10,890.2 |
-5.8 |
5,596.4 |
2.4 |
5,293.8 |
-13.1 |
1998 p* |
8,197.0 |
-3.6 |
4,264.3 |
5.4 |
3,932.7 |
-11.8 |
1999 p* |
8,298.6 |
1.2 |
4,087.6 |
-4.1 |
4,211.1 |
7.1 |
|
p: Provisional.
* Up to september.
Source: National Administrative Department of Statistics(DANE). |
