Colombia's Dairy Auctions: A Boost for National Production

In a strategic move to bolster the Colombian dairy industry, the Bolsa Mercantil de Colombia has started conducting bi-weekly auctions for dairy products, including powdered milk, UHT milk, and both fresh and matured cheeses. These auctions commenced in March 2025 under the guidance of the Mercantile Exchange and supported by the Price Stabilization Fund, with a clear objective: to stimulate national production, enhance market accessibility, and benefit approximately 350,000 producing families.

The initiative has a significant financial backdrop. During 2024, it facilitated the transaction of over 29 billion pesos in dairy products, including roughly 1,400 tonnes of powdered milk, 3 million liters of liquid milk, and 11,000 kilos of fresh cheese. Looking forward, the program is set to allocate an initial budget of 2.5 billion pesos in 2025, specifically for compensations to sellers participating in these business rounds.

Participation in these auctions is open to both national industrial producers of dairy products and service providers for outsourcing dairy goods. Buyers can be individuals or businesses interested in acquiring the offered products. All participants must be represented by a brokerage firm registered with the Columbian Mercantile Exchange.