## Colombia: Selected Issues

_IMF Staff Country Reports, May 29, 2018_

## Source details

**Canonical URL:** [Colombia: Selected Issues](https://www.imf.org/en/publications/cr/issues/2018/05/29/colombia-selected-issues-45899)

## Other formats

- [Markdown version](/en/publications/cr/issues/2018/05/29/colombia-selected-issues-45899/index.md)
- [Structured JSON version](/en/publications/cr/issues/2018/05/29/colombia-selected-issues-45899/index.json)
- [Bundle manifest](/en/publications/cr/issues/2018/05/29/colombia-selected-issues-45899/bundle-manifest.json)

## Bibliographic details
- Published: May 29, 2018
- Series: IMF Staff Country Reports
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9781484357743.002

---

### Summary
- This Selected Issues paper examines the export growth in Colombia.
- Colombian exports are heavily concentrated in commodities but the large real depreciation since 2015 offers an opportunity to grow nontraditional exports substantially.
- Colombia’s comparative advantage in noncommodity products was weak in 2013-15, and export diversification was low, partly owing to the commodity price boom.
- Exports grew moderately in recent years but in line with historical relationships given fundamentals.
- The export outlook is positive. Given global growth assumptions, the IMF staff’s models predict acceleration in export growth.
- The historical experience of commodity exporters that suffer large real depreciations also paints a positive picture.

### Findings on export structure and past performance
- Exports are heavily concentrated in commodities.
- Comparative advantage in noncommodity products: weak in 2013-15.
- Export diversification: low, partly owing to the commodity price boom.
- Recent export growth: characterized as moderate and consistent with historical relationships and fundamentals.

### Drivers of future export growth
- Large real depreciation since 2015 identified as an opportunity to expand nontraditional exports.
- IMF staff models, under given global growth assumptions, predict an acceleration in export growth.
- Historical experience of commodity exporters that undergo large real depreciations suggests favorable prospects for export expansion.

---

## Content in this bundle

- **Country Report**
  - [Country Report (Markdown version)](/-/media/files/publications/cr/2018/cr18129-colombiasi.pdf.md){rel="alternate" type="text/markdown"}
  - [Country Report (PDF)](/-/media/files/publications/cr/2018/cr18129-colombiasi.pdf){rel="external" type="application/pdf"}

---

_Source: https://www.imf.org/en/publications/cr/issues/2018/05/29/colombia-selected-issues-45899_