Colombian exports maintained a growth trend in February that confirms the gradual shift in the composition of the country’s foreign trade. Beyond the traditional weight of hydrocarbons, recent momentum shows a greater role for the agricultural sector, which is consolidating itself as one of the drivers of external sales in a context of productive diversification.
With growth of 11.4% compared to the same figure in February 2025, Colombia’s export market is consolidating in an international environment marked by volatility in commodity prices and geopolitical uncertainty.
Nonetheless, Colombia is managing to sustain export growth supported by goods of agricultural and agro-industrial origin, in a shift in the export model promoted by the government itself.
Agricultural sector leads Colombian exports in February, rising 11.4%
During the past month of February, Colombia’s total exports reached US$4.2 billion, representing an increase of more than 11% compared to the same month of the previous year, when exports totaled US$3.8 billion, according to official data.
This growth was largely driven by the performance of the agricultural sector, which continues to gain weight within the country’s export structure, in a change in the economic model that the government has been promoting for more than three years.
In particular, external sales of agricultural products, food, and beverages amounted to around US$1.3 billion in the second month of the year. This represented a year-over-year increase that confirms the upward trend already observed since 2025.
The most striking figure, however, is in volume. Agricultural exports grew 63.2% in terms of tons, reaching close to 713,984 tons shipped abroad. This jump reflects not only better prices or trade conditions, but a real increase in production and in the country’s export supply.
The growth in volume reveals a significant structural shift. It is not only about exporting at higher prices, but about exporting more. This behavior suggests an expansion of the agricultural production base, as well as improvements in logistics, market access, and product diversification.
Within Colombia’s total exports, the agricultural sector accounted for about 30.2% in February, consolidating itself as the second most important segment of the country’s foreign trade. This level of participation reflects significant progress compared to previous years, when the weight of agriculture was lower relative to sectors such as oil and mining.
The boost in agriculture also responds to a public policy strategy aimed at strengthening rural areas. The government has highlighted access to rural credit, support for small-scale farming economies, and productivity programs as factors that have helped expand export capacity.
🚢#Exportaciones | En febrero de 2026 las ventas externas del país fueron US$4.211,6 millones FOB y presentaron un crecimiento de 11,4% en relación con febrero de 2025; este resultado se debió principalmente al aumento del 141,0% en las ventas externas del grupo de Otros… pic.twitter.com/5LCijGsP3M
— DANE Colombia (@DANE_Colombia) April 1, 2026
Diversification and resilience in turbulent times
The strong performance of the agricultural sector has broader implications for the Colombian economy. First, it helps reduce dependence on energy commodities, which have historically been exposed to sharp price cycles. Second, it promotes greater stability in export revenues.
Products such as coffee (which remains strong, despite the decline in February), bananas, flowers, palm oil, and fresh fruits continue to lead agricultural exports, albeit with increasing diversification toward new markets and higher value-added products. This diversification has been key to sustaining growth even in adverse international scenarios.
Moreover, the increase in export volume indicates that the country is managing to overcome some of the sector’s structural limitations, such as low productivity and logistical challenges. The development of new infrastructure and the strengthening of supply chains have contributed to this outcome.
Over the last twelve months, between January 2025 and February 2026, agricultural exports reached US$2.7 billion, with growth of 17.2%. In the same period, the country’s total exports grew by 12.1%, confirming that agriculture is expanding at a faster pace than the national average.
This performance reinforces the idea that the agricultural sector is not only a complement, but an increasingly important pillar of Colombia’s foreign trade. Its sustained growth suggests that the economy is finding new sources of dynamism beyond traditional sectors.
At the same time, analysts warn of the need to improve rural infrastructure, ensure security in productive areas, and expand access to technology, which remain key factors in consolidating this trend. They also argue that maintaining access to international markets and complying with increasingly demanding sanitary and quality standards will be decisive.
In any case, the figures for February 2026 confirm that Colombian agriculture is not only growing, but also redefining the country’s export profile. In an uncertain global context—amid an oil crisis driven by international conflicts—this transformation could become one of the main strengths of the national economy in the coming years, or at least that is what the government of President Petro expects.