External purchases totaled US$5,839.4 million in April 2024.

Colombian imports totaled US$5,839.4 million in April and grew 18.1% compared to the same month in 2023, according to import declarations registered with the DIAN.

- The growth is explained, especially, by the 19.5% increase in manufacturing, driven by machinery and transportation equipment.

- The purchase of manufactured goods accounted for 73.6% of the total value of imports, followed by agriculture, food and beverages (14.4%), fuels and products from extractive industries (11.9%) and other sectors (0 ,1%).

- Imports of fuels and products from extractive industries were US$692.4 million, a growth of 46.9%, compared to April 2023; The product that contributed the most was natural and manufactured.

IN THE FIRST FOUR MONTHS OF THE YEAR IMPORTS FALLEN

Between January and April 2024, imports were US$20,376.3 million, a drop of 4.7%, compared to the same period in 2023.

In those four months, imports of the manufacturing group were US$ 15,065.5 million, 2.4% less, mainly due to lower purchases of machinery and transportation equipment (-8.4%).

The group's external purchases of agricultural products, food and beverages were US$ 3,078.6 million (-11.6% compared to 2023), those of fuels and products from the extractive industries were US$ 2,211.8 million (-9 ,4%).

IMPORTS ACCORDING TO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN

In the first four months of the year, goods from the United States participated with 26.2% of the total registered, followed by those originating from China, Brazil, Mexico, Germany, France and Japan.

BALANCE OF TRADE

Between January and April, a deficit of US$ 3,619.9 million FOB was recorded in the Colombian trade balance, while in the same period in 2023 there was a deficit of US$ 3,964.5 million FOB.