Colombia

Columbians heavily prioritised maintaining high levels of hygiene in their homes and surroundings during the pandemic to try and minimise the possibility of contracting the COVID-19 virus. This was reinforced by a number of international and national…

Although squeezable plastic tubes remains the dominant pack type for toothpaste, folding cartons were eating into this pack type’s share over the review period. This could be attributed to two main reasons: customer perception and sustainability.…

Chocolate confectionery in Colombia is undergoing a revival, exhibiting encouraging signs of both retail value and volume growth in 2023. Nonetheless, progress is set to be relatively subdued - a result of persisting consumer habits of staying…

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…

Recent figures from the Food Chamber of the National Association of Businessmen of Colombia (Andi) suggest a robust ice cream consumption rate in Colombia, with an annual per capita intake of 3.4 litres recorded in December 2022. Crucial to this…

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.…

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…

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…

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly influenced consumption habits among Colombians, leading to a shift in their snacking behaviour. With an increasingly hybrid lifestyle and prolonged periods spent at home, consumers have adopted more flexible…

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.…

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…

2022 into 2023 has been difficult for consumer electronics in Colombia, with a contraction in both volume and current value sales. Internal and external factors influenced shrinkage in many categories. Among the most significant was the fact that,…

Although wireless headbands and TWS earbuds performed well in 2023, sales in these subcategories have not been enough to offset macro category decline.

The decline of home audio and cinema in 2023 is due to its inability to compete with wireless devices with greater technology and functionality. Colombian consumers are increasingly familiar with smart systems, which has led to home audio and cinema…

Retail volume sales of home video declined in 2023, as local consumers faced significant constraints on household spending in the wake of rising inflation and low economic growth. Additionally, in the 12 months from March 2022 to March 2023, the…

In 2023, a decline in consumer purchasing power amid rising inflation and the devaluation of the Colombian peso in relation to the dollar is impacting sales of imaging devices, though not to the same extent as other consumer electronics. The biggest…

In-car entertainment in Colombia is seeing double-digit volume decline in 2023 as these products become ever more obsolete as the technology and functionality of smartphones improves. Most smartphones currently available have a preinstalled…

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…

Wireless speakers is driving growth in portable players in 2023. The key factors behind this are connectivity, portability, and specific functions such as voice assistants. Wireless speakers can synch with multiple smart devices – a must-have in…

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…

Glass bottles continued to dominate alcoholic drinks packaging unit volumes in Columbia in 2022. However, brick liquid cartons again saw strong growth in alcoholic drinks packaging in 2022, which can be attributed to a few reasons. Firstly, brick…

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…

The year 2023 proved to be challenging for intermediaries within the travel industry, largely due to the bankruptcy of Viva Air and Ultra Air at the onset of the year. These events imposed significant economic and financial difficulties on travel…

Hostels, especially those in more remote areas of the country, are embracing current tourism trends by catering to the evolving preferences of backpackers. Beyond just accommodation, hostels are incorporating experiences that immerse travellers in…

At the end of 2022, the national government approved a visa for digital nomads, allowing foreigners to work remotely or offer their services from Colombia. This visa enables them to reside in the country while engaging in remote work for up to 24…

The year 2023 presented significant challenges for the Colombian tourism industry, driven by a combination of factors including the national economic slowdown, the removal of tax benefits such as VAT exemptions for tourism, the devaluation of the…

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…

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…

In 2022, demand for cold, cough and allergy (have fever) remedies soared, as a result of the atypical increase in flu cases, as social distancing, handwashing protocols, and the use of face masks were totally lifted in 2022, facilitating the spread…

Dermatologicals is expected to see higher value growth in 2023 than in the previous year. Value growth is partly being driven by escalating prices and partly by people returning to in-person medical consultations, which lead to more recommendations…

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…

Digestive remedies has been amongst the most dynamic categories within OTC. With people back to their normal routines, which include an increase in the frequency of eating out of the home, they have been more prone to suffer from bloating, reflux, or…

The occurrence of dry eye in Colombia is on the rise, with an estimated 35% to 40% of the population experiencing this condition, although official statistics are unavailable. The emergence of new habits during the pandemic and post-pandemic period,…

Demand for cough/cold/allergy remedies is on the rise. Ingredients such as menthol, eucalyptus, propolis, and hedera helix are particularly popular in syrups used to address dry or productive coughs. These herbal remedies are known for their…

NRT smoking cessation aids saw growth decelerate in 2021 and 2022. On one side, with the high price tag of NRT products and consumers looking to balance their budgets, this category is not considered essential but easily replaceable. On the other…

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).…

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…

Sports nutrition continues to register positive growth in spite of rising prices. Health consciousness in Colombia has been a strong motivating factor for many individuals, pushing them not only to incorporate sports into their daily routines, but…

After the COVID-19 crisis, the demand for vitamins shrunk. With a significant reduction in COVID-19 cases and less severe disease, consumers withdrew their attention from vitamins, especially those that they did not have the habit of regularly…

Amongst the major concerns of Colombians are health issues associated with being overweight or obese. Awareness of such issues has been raised by government efforts, which have included issuing an obesity law in 2009 that promotes healthier eating…

The current offerings in wound care products remain predominantly basic, simply providing various shapes and sizes to cover injuries on different body parts. However, consumer awareness of innovative features in these products is generally low, as…

Baby food continues to see a decline in retail volume sales in 2023, although it is less severe than in previous years. The main cause of the downward trend can be traced to the downturn in the number of births in Colombia, which has declined by 8%,…

Colombia is facing potential shortages in butter, as a large proportion of milk production is used to produce cheese, yogurt and drinking milk. Dairy producers have struggled to meet demand amid a shortage in milk, especially during the first…

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…

Dairy products and alternatives is recording another year of sluggish retail volume growth in 2023, in response to low production and supply chain issues. High transport costs, the increase in the price of raw materials and worker shortages have…

The cow’s milk segment continues to see significant price increase in 2023 driven by the rising cost of production, including fertiliser and utility prices, distribution and inflation. Milk products have been amongst the most impacted within the…

Retail volume sales of other dairy has made a marginal improvement in 2023, following a year of decline in the previous year. The shift back to the foodservice channel hampered retail sales in 2022, but with sales growth slowing in the horeca channel…

Consumers have moved away from soy drinks and towards tastier plant-based milk based on almonds, oats, rice and coconut or blends, even though both segments are considered a niche, with a strong price barrier to overcome. Plant-based dairy has also…

In 2023, retail volume sales of yoghurt and sour milk products is being negatively affected by multiple factors, such as increases in prices and disruption of raw materials. Nevertheless, the healthy aspects of yoghurt, which is associated with…

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…