Colombia’s fruit exports are growing. If fruit exports from Colombia closed the year 2025, according to figures from DANE and Analdex, with numbers that reached US$2.193 billion, those of 2026 could be above US$2.400 billion. Those are the optimistic projections being made due to greater technification of the countryside, investment in infrastructure, and the opening of new international markets.
The commercial boom that the Colombian fruit sector is experiencing is especially represented by the optimal performance in foreign markets of products such as bananas, Hass avocados, fresh plantains, and Tahiti limes. In addition, fruits such as golden berries and strategic bets on unusual fruits such as gulupa, granadilla, and strawberries are diversifying the offer and gaining ground in international markets.
The leap expected for this 2026 would consolidate the sector as one of the main engines of foreign exchange generation, stated the economic daily Portafolio, which assures that this progress occurs in a context in which agriculture has gained prominence within the trade balance. The dynamics of the sector have made it possible to compensate for the fall of other traditional export items in Colombia.
Precisely, the favorable environment for the expansion of the country’s nonmining basket was evidenced by the fact that, in the first two months of 2026, agricultural exports reached US$2.68 billion, with a growth of 17.5%.
Keys to boosting fruit exports
These agricultural exports had an important participation in the general exports of the first two months of 2026, as analyzed by Analdex as follows: Foreign sales of fuels and products of extractive industries 33.3% and a decrease of 6.4% compared to the previous year. For their part, agricultural products, food, and beverages accounted for 30.2%, with a growth of 11.3% compared to February 2025.
Manufactures accounted for 18.0% with a decreasing performance in their sales of 6.8%, and other sectors (non-monetary gold) with 18.4% participation and a growth in sales of 141.0%, surpassing the manufacturing sector in the analyzed period.
The key to the rebound of fruit exports may lie in the capacity to produce continuously throughout the year, which has become a relevant competitive advantage. “This condition makes it possible to serve demanding markets with a constant supply and high quality standards in fresh products,” the same outlet specifies.
But the strengthening of the fruit sector has also been accompanied by improvements in logistics infrastructure, such as the development of port platforms, which have optimized the transport and preservation of products destined for international markets.
The Port of Santa Marta is consolidating itself as a strategic point for these exports. Its figures reflect an increase of 27% in fruit exports and 19% in agro-industrial cargo recently moved. These improvements have made it possible to extend the shelf life of products and reduce risks in the chain. Logistics efficiency translates into greater competitiveness and the capacity to respond to more demanding international markets.