Colombia's June trade deficit nearly doubles as imports surge 26.4%
DANE data show the trade gap widened to US$2.161 billion in June as import demand outpaced export performance by a wide margin.
Colombia posted a trade deficit of US$2.161 billion in June 2026, according to DANE data published on 19 August, as imports climbed 26.4% year-on-year to US$6.3945 billion while exports stood at US$4.2335 billion FOB. The gap represents a sharp widening compared with the same month a year earlier.
The surge in imports is consistent with stronger demand for capital and intermediate goods, analysts noted, though the imbalance raises questions about the sustainability of the current account position at a time when the country also faces major earthquake-related reconstruction costs.
The trade figures add a layer of complexity to the economic picture that emerged this week alongside the stronger-than-expected Q2 GDP reading, suggesting that robust domestic demand is pulling in more foreign goods even as export growth lags behind.
Reportado por El Paisa, nuestro corresponsal colombiano.
