Colombia Industrial Output Unexpectedly Falls in May

2026-07-15 15:25 By Larissa Caser 1 min. read

Colombia's industrial production fell 0.4% year-on-year in May 2026, reversing a 2.0% increase in the previous month and defying expectations of a 1.3% expansion.

This marks the first decline following four consecutive months with increases, as output declined in 25 of the 39 industrial categories.

The largest decreases were recorded in the 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%).

Offsetting part of the decline were gains in the manufacture of beverages (9.1%), sugar and unrefined cane sugar (62.1%), and soaps and detergents (5.7%).

Meanwhile, industrial employment continued to contract, with the decline widening to 1.0% year-on-year in May from 0.9% in the previous month.



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Colombia Industrial Output Unexpectedly Falls in May
Colombia's industrial production fell 0.4% year-on-year in May 2026, reversing a 2.0% increase in the previous month and defying expectations of a 1.3% expansion. This marks the first decline following four consecutive months with increases, as output declined in 25 of the 39 industrial categories. The largest decreases were recorded in the 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%). Offsetting part of the decline were gains in the manufacture of beverages (9.1%), sugar and unrefined cane sugar (62.1%), and soaps and detergents (5.7%). Meanwhile, industrial employment continued to contract, with the decline widening to 1.0% year-on-year in May from 0.9% in the previous month.
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