Colombia boosts dairy exports while beef shipments fall 42%

Colombia increased its dairy exports by 12.8% in January–September 2026, while overseas shipments of beef and live cattle declined significantly. According to data from the National Administrative Department of Statistics (DANE), processed by the industry organization Fedegán-FNG, dairy exports reached 11.78 thsd tons worth $47 mln, compared with 10.44 thsd tons during the same period last year. Meanwhile, the appreciation of the Colombian peso is putting additional pressure on the competitiveness of livestock products in international markets.

Venezuela remains the largest buyer of Colombian dairy products, importing $33.8 mln worth of products during the first nine months of 2026 and accounting for approximately 72% of the sector’s export revenue. The United States ranked second with purchases of $9.4 mln, representing nearly 20% of the total. Together, these two markets accounted for around 92% of Colombia’s dairy export earnings. Whole milk powder remained the leading export product, with shipments totaling 5.14 thsd tons worth $26.7 mln, or approximately 57% of total revenue. The country also exported cheese, skimmed milk powder, condensed milk and whey.

Unlike the dairy sector, exports of beef and meat by-products declined sharply. In January–September 2026, Colombia shipped 16.78 thsd tons of these products to international markets, generating $95.4 mln in revenue. Compared with the same period last year, export volumes fell by approximately 42%, while their value decreased by 27.4%. China remained the largest buyer of Colombian beef. The smaller decline in export revenue compared with shipment volumes indicates an increase in the average export value per ton.

A negative trend was also recorded in live cattle exports. During the first nine months of the year, Colombia exported 128.59 thsd head of cattle, compared with 195.36 thsd head a year earlier, representing a decline of approximately 34.2%. Iraq remained the main destination. One factor weakening exporters’ competitiveness has been the appreciation of the national currency, as producers receive fewer pesos for the same amount of dollar-denominated export revenue. According to Fedegán-FNG, mechanisms provided by the Price Stabilization Fund (FEP) have helped sustain export activity.

The outlook for Colombia’s livestock exports will depend not only on exchange rates but also on production costs, infrastructure development, processing efficiency and international trading conditions. According to Fedegán-FNG, local producers are gradually adopting modern technologies and improving farm management, although the industry still needs stronger integration between production, processing and exports. Meanwhile, the high concentration of dairy shipments in the Venezuelan and US markets, together with declining beef exports, highlights the need to diversify overseas sales.

Tags: cattle, live cattle, Colombia, Beef cattle