Colombia

Democracy has seen progress in Colombia, but the rule of law is weakened by organised criminal factions. Although slowing, the economy has outperformed peers, but the country is grappling with high inflation and reliance on oil remains substantial.…

Following the economic downturn, Colombia has been on an encouraging path to recovery since the second half of 2021, with the growth trajectory solidifying by the end of 2022 when an impressive rise of 7.5% was registered. This economic resurgence…

Retail volume growth in savoury snacks is seeing a slowdown in 2023, triggered by increasing unit prices. Savoury snacks, not perceived as essential items by consumers, are experiencing a decline in demand as locals explore less expensive options.…

Gum in Colombia is a mature category predominantly monopolised by a handful of key brands, and in 2023 is seeing a continued gradual recovery in demand. As daily routines return to normal both socially and professionally, more consumers are resorting…

Beauty and personal care experienced strong total current value growth in Colombia in 2023, partly driven by soaring inflation (9.28% in 2023 according to the DANE - The National Administrative Department of Statistics), which resulted in strong…

Apparel and footwear specialists experienced another successful year in 2023, with moderate current value growth as consumers resumed their pre-pandemic lifestyles. The approaches to apparel and footwear, which feature strongly in consumers’…

Dishwashers in Colombia witnessed a slight decrease in sales volume compared to the previous year, primarily due to a contraction in the country's construction sector, directly impacting the category. The decline is chiefly attributed to a decrease…

Retail sales of sweet spreads are seeing growth boosted in Colombia in 2023 by the expansion of consumption opportunities, with consumers increasingly choosing to use chocolate spreads as ingredients in the preparation of home-made desserts and…

As society has now reopened in the wake of the pandemic and men have returned to their places of work and can once again enjoy social gatherings, items, such as outerwear, have become more necessary than underwear and nightwear. With limited budgets,…

Soft cheese is witnessing the strongest increase in current value sales in 2023, with retail price inflation largely responsible for the growth. Since the end of 2022, price increases have also been exacerbated by a reduction in supplies of soft…

A virtual restaurant in an emerging concept. Also known as a ghost kitchen, cloud kitchen or dark kitchen, it is a foodservice business that serves customers exclusively by delivery or pick-up, with technology driving a lot of the operations. Some of…

The sustainability trend in womenswear in Colombia reflects a growing awareness of environmental and social responsibility among both consumers and fashion brands. Colombian women are increasingly seeking clothing options that are eco-friendly,…

Brand loyalty remains a prominent aspect in the Colombian sportswear industry, with consumers often expressing strong preferences for established global brands, such as Nike and adidas due to their reputation for quality and performance. However,…

Colombian consumers' widespread adoption of sneakers/trainers, particularly white sneakers, can be attributed to their willingness to embrace global fashion trends. The growth of sneakers sales helped drive general growth of footwear in 2023. White…

The use of local materials is of utmost importance in Colombian accessories as it fosters a sense of cultural identity and pride. Utilising materials that are indigenous to the region celebrates the country's rich heritage and craftsmanship. By…

In 2023, Colombians returned to their familiar routines, with increasing social activity and hectic lifestyles leading to an increase in cases of cold and benefiting most OTC categories. However, the opposite trend is being observed in vitamins and…

After the spike in demand for systemic analgesics in the period, 2020 to 2021, driven by COVID-19 and then by the need to relieve reactions to vaccination, in 2022 demand tended to stabilise. However, adult acetaminophen and combination analgesics…

Despite turbulent environment, sugar confectionery, viewed by Colombian consumers as more of an affordable indulgence compared to chocolate confectionery, is turning in a resilient performance in 2023. The market has experienced significant…

Chilled processed meat, which is the biggest category in overall processed meat and seafood in packaging unit volumes, continued to see positive growth in Colombia in 2023. The increasing unit volume sales in chilled processed meat packaging were…

In 2023, processed fruit and vegetables, and its packaging, experienced a difficult year. The primary factor behind the category’s sales decline was the stability and even occasional reductions in the prices of fresh fruit and vegetables throughout…

Due to its portability and flexibility, which seamlessly align with on-the-go consumption habits, flexible aluminium/plastic packaging is the preferred choice for meals and soups packaging in Colombia. Its protective barrier properties ensure…

Health and beauty specialists recorded another year of strong current value growth in 2023 due to the lack of pandemic-related restrictions and social distancing, and the return to work and social events. The cosmetic and health industry in the…

Vacuum cleaners in Colombia witnessed a substantial decline in sales volume compared to the preceding year, primarily attributed to the country's economic downturn. Reduced consumer incomes prompted prioritisation of essential goods over…

The sales volume of refrigeration appliances has witnessed a considerable decline, primarily influenced by the prevailing economic conditions that have adversely impacted consumer purchasing power. A significant factor contributing to this downturn…

Consumer appliances in Colombia encountered moderate growth in 2023, marking the lowest volume growth in the past six years. Major appliances suffered a decline in volume sales, impacted by multiple factors, including reduced purchasing power among…

The Colombian economy began its recovery in the latter half of 2021. This growth was fuelled by fiscal stimulus measures implemented in 2021, rising oil prices, and a surge in food and beverage exports, which recorded a significant increase in 2022.…

The demand for energy drinks experienced marginal growth in 2023, building on the progress made in 2020 and driven by increasing consumption occasions. Volume and value sales are growing in both off-trade and on-trade channels, albeit at a slower…

Following a pandemic-induced surge, the demand for a more diverse range of teas and offerings is persisting within on-trade channels. In contrast to coffee, tea faced lesser impacts from inflation and the escalating costs of raw materials in 2023.…

In the early months of 2023, a challenging macroeconomic climate, coupled with low consumer confidence, high interest rates to curb demand and soaring inflation, as well as political uncertainty, resulted in a marked deceleration in the issuance of…

Sleep disorders have increased in Colombia since the pandemic due to the increased incidence of mental health issues and anxiety, whether diagnosed or not. The country still faces barriers to timely attention and diagnosis of psychological and…

Smartphones continues to see a decline volume sales in Columbia in 2023, in tandem with the pressure on consumer purchasing power. The strong devaluation of the Colombian peso against the dollar has made these products more expensive, and this is…

The expansion of plant-based dairy packaging in Colombia's food packaging landscape is being propelled by a surge in demand for plant-based products, heightened environmental consciousness, the positive consumer perceptions tied to health and…

Mass beauty and personal care enjoyed double-digit growth in Colombia in 2023, consolidating pre-pandemic levels. However, growth was largely due to inflationary pressures, which led consumers to explore mass brands because of their lower purchasing…

In 2023, appliances and electronics specialists in Colombia were impacted by economic uncertainty and the consequent reduced consumer demand for large appliances and electronics, such as refrigerators, smartphones, and laptops. Also, the Ministry of…

RTD coffee continues to experience robust growth in off-trade volume sales in 2023, building on the success of 2022, when sales were boosted by hot summer weather and effective online marketing campaigns, despite remaining a niche category. The…

Soft drinks producers have faced mounting challenges due to rising input costs and supply chain disruptions, including soaring energy prices, bottlenecks in the supply chain, and escalating prices of primary packaging materials. Despite experiencing…

One of the significant impacts of the pandemic was the shift towards the consumption of high-quality coffee within domestic settings. This trend has endured beyond the 2020 lockdowns, with fresh ground coffee showcasing dynamic retail volume growth…

Staple foods in Colombia in 2023 is significantly influenced by food price-related issues, inflation, and the country's GDP evolution. The historically high inflation experienced in 2022 continued to be a major concern for all stakeholders in staple…

Global prices of cooking oils have been rising since the COVID-19 pandemic began, with the price hikes intensified thanks to the war in Ukraine and the resultant regional shortage of sunflower oil. Though no such shortage was noted in Colombia during…

The use of debit cards continues to grow and they remain the most important payment method behind cash. Further robust growth is expected in 2023 both in the number of cards in circulation and value of transactions. The performance of debit cards has…

The Colombian economy felt the effects of a slowdown in the first semester of 2023 due to a restrictive monetary policy, compounded by a significant increase in interest rates at the end of 2022. This caused credit card interest rates to rise above…

Size changes, also known as growth spurts, play a significant role in promoting purchases in the childrenswear category in Colombia. As children rapidly grow, parents and caregivers frequently need to update their children's wardrobes with new…

The dietary supplements category is expected to experience positive growth rates in 2023, largely driven by prices, although the growth is expected to be slower than that seen previously in the review period. Despite the increasing concern amongst…

The suspension of operations by Viva Air and Ultra Air at the outset of 2023 had a substantial impact on the decline in domestic passenger numbers within the country. These two airlines ceased their operations in Colombia due to their outstanding…

In 2023, wearable electronics is seeing modest growth in retail volume terms, thanks to the resumption of physical activities in gyms and public spaces post-pandemic. Wearables are now regarded as an important training aid and they can also track…

Air treatment products in Colombia witnesses robust double-digit growth, primarily attributed to the soaring demand for cooling fans. This surge is driven by hotter weather conditions in 2023 due to the El Niño phenomenon, prompting consumers to seek…

The negative performance of hot drinks in 2023 can be attributed to two primary factors. Firstly, rising prices are impacting demand not only for hot drinks themselves but also for associated beverages like milk, which continues to experience…

Paediatric analgesics faced supply issues during 2022 and part of 2023, particularly with a scarcity of Dolex 7+ (a suspension that can be used for children aged 7 and above that has a different concentration from baby drops and adult acetaminophen).…

Although the contraction seen in desktops and peripherals is modest in 2023, the factors that led to the decline in 2022 are still present. These are the devaluation of the Colombian peso against the dollar, spiralling inflation and the loss of…

In 2023, the number of pre-paid cards in circulation is expected to grow steadily. Closed loop pre-paid cards, particularly transportation cards, will remain the most important. This growth is driven by increased mobility as hybrid work schemes lose…