Colombia's Rising Dairy Imports Cause Concern Among Local Producers

The Colombian dairy sector is facing increasing challenges as imports reached 30,285 tonnes valued at $99 million between January and May 2025. This represents a slight increase from 29,417 tonnes worth $94.1 million over the same period in 2024. The rising imports place 2025 among the highest years for imports in the past decade, outpaced only by 2020, 2022, and 2023. This surge in imports raises serious sustainability and competitiveness issues for local dairy producers. Products such as skimmed milk powder, whole milk powder, fresh cheeses, and whey, primarily imported from the United States, highlight the country’s reliance on external dairy products.

This dependency affects local farmers’ profitability and sector growth. Óscar Cubillos from Fedegán emphasizes the need for public policies and incentive programs to boost national product consumption and suggests moving towards production self-sufficiency. The approach aims to protect local producers from international market volatility and ensure the country's food sovereignty. The current import situation in Colombia serves as a call to action for Latin American agribusinesses to prioritize national production, boost local milk consumption, and strengthen internal supply chains to ensure sector resilience and growth.