Colombia’s industrial production grew 3.9% year-on-year in March 2026, accelerating from February’s 1.4% increase and significantly exceeding market expectations of a 1.8% rise. This marked the strongest expansion in six months.
The upturn was led by robust gains in several key segments: beverage manufacturing rose 16.7%; the production of pharmaceutical products and medicinal chemicals increased 17.1%; petroleum refining and fuel blending advanced 6.9%; food processing grew 10.5%; and transport equipment output surged 32.9%.
These gains were partly offset by contractions in other industries. Output fell in the manufacture of paper, cardboard, and related products (-7.3%); in basic chemicals and their derivatives (-9.1%); and in spinning, weaving, and finishing of textiles (-15%).
Elsewhere in the real economy, retail sales climbed 3.8% year-on-year in March, while industrial employment edged down by 0.6%.
