1. Your category in Colombia
Pick your category and this section shows what we actually hold for Colombia: how many potential buyers we have verified, what roles they play in the supply chain, and how well they fit. Switch back to All industries at any time.
“Potential buyers” means the buyers we have verified and listed in our own directory — not every importer in the country. Buyer roles are our own grouping of the roles recorded in that directory. (5 of these records do not yet carry a recorded buyer role.)
2. Entry gate
Colombia's technical gate is RETIE, the mandatory electrical safety regulation, which is checked at import. Alongside it sit importer registration and a customs declaration filed by a licensed broker. There is no free trade agreement with China, so Chinese-origin goods pay the MFN rate, but the weighted mean is among the lowest in this group.
| Requirement | Status | What it involves | Lead time | Cost | Last verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RETIE conformity | Mandatory (electrical products) | Compliance with the mandatory electrical installation and equipment regulation, evidenced by a certificate of conformity issued by an accredited body and presented at import. | 4–8 weeks | Pending | Pending |
| Importer registration | Always applies | The Colombian importer must be registered with the customs and tax authority. No Colombian entity is required from the exporter, but a local importer of record is. | 2–4 weeks | Pending | Pending |
| Customs declaration | Always applies | Declared through the customs system, normally by a licensed customs broker. Where the product category requires it, prior approval from the sectoral regulator must be obtained before shipment. | 1–2 weeks | Broker fee | Pending |
| Tariff (MFN) | Always applies | Average applied MFN tariff around 3.5%; the rate depends on the HS line and must be confirmed line by line at HS-code level. | — | On customs value | Pending |
| Tariff (preference) | Not available for Chinese origin | Colombia has free trade agreements with the United States, the European Union and several Latin American and Asian partners, but not with China. Chinese-origin goods pay the MFN rate. | — | — | Pending |
| VAT | Always applies | 19% standard rate, charged on the customs value plus duty. Recoverable by a Colombian business registered for VAT. | — | 19% | Pending |
| Labelling | Mandatory | Spanish-language labelling with product name, the Colombian importer's name and address, country of origin and safety information. | 1–3 weeks | — | Pending |
Certification, tariff and clearance figures change. Every row above carries a verification date, and the current requirement is confirmed with your nominated local agent before each shipment.
3. Buyers and channel partners
Leading buyers and channel partners
Every company below is a real business in Colombia taken from our own buyer research, and we have verified that its website is reachable. Names and business types are public; decision-makers, direct emails and phone numbers are reserved for members of the Buyer Directory.
How to use this list: do not mass-mail. Colombian purchasing runs through distributors who already hold RETIE and the importer registration, so the productive first conversation is with a distributor. Support the first order well and the second one follows.
4. Demand and import profile
Select your HS code and this block shows the import performance of your own category in Colombia — not the country's macro numbers.
Import size & growth
Example: imports of this category run at a double-digit share of the market's total and are growing faster than overall imports.
Example values · to be replaced with OEC / WITS data for your HS line
Source-country mix
Example: China is the largest source, ahead of regional and EU suppliers.
Example values · to be replaced with OEC / WITS data for your HS line
Price band
Example: the mid price band is where Chinese supply competes; the low band is held by regional producers.
Example values · to be replaced with customs / trade data
What we can supply to this market
These are the lines we have found the strongest fit for Colombia. Specifications are on the product pages; tell us your application and we will confirm the model.
5. Landed-cost calculator
A static table cannot persuade anyone. Enter your own numbers and see the landed cost. Duty rate and freight are editable so you can test scenarios.
Your shipment
Estimated landed cost
Illustrative calculation only. It excludes anti-dumping duty, excise, port storage and any category-specific surcharge. Confirm the duty rate and local charges with your forwarder before making a commitment.
6. Logistics and customs
Clearance-day figures change with congestion and policy; treat as indicative and confirm before quoting.
7. Payment, currency and tax
8. Localisation and communication
These are the details nobody tells you, and one mistake can cost you a customer.
9. Risks and timing
Frequently asked questions
What is RETIE?
Colombia's mandatory electrical installation and equipment regulation. Electrical products must hold a certificate of conformity issued by an accredited body, and it is checked at import.
Is there a free trade agreement between China and Colombia?
No. Colombia has agreements with the United States, the European Union and several Latin American and Asian partners. Chinese-origin goods pay the MFN rate.
How much is import VAT?
19% on the customs value plus duty, recoverable by a VAT-registered Colombian business.
Do I need a local importer?
Yes. The Colombian importer must be registered with the customs and tax authority. The exporter does not need a Colombian entity, but a local importer of record is required.
Which port should I use?
Buenaventura for Pacific routings and Cartagena or Barranquilla for the Caribbean and Atlantic. Inland transport from Buenaventura is the slower leg.
Do labels have to be in Spanish?
Yes. Spanish labelling with the importer's details, origin and safety information is required.
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