Colombia’s industrial production fell 0.4% year-on-year in May 2026, reversing a 2.0% increase in April and undershooting market expectations of a 1.3% expansion. This was the first contraction after four consecutive months of growth, as output declined in 25 of the 39 industrial categories.
The sharpest drops were registered in processing and preserving of meat, fish, crustaceans, and molluscs (-10.7%); manufacture of apparel (-11.3%); spinning, weaving, and finishing of textiles (-20.8%); basic iron and steel industries (-10.6%); and manufacture of cocoa, chocolate, and confectionery (-18.1%).
These declines were partly offset by stronger activity in the manufacture of beverages (9.1%), sugar and unrefined cane sugar (62.1%), and soaps and detergents (5.7%).
At the same time, industrial employment remained on a downward trend, with the annual decline deepening to 1.0% in May from 0.9% in the previous month.
