Colombia: sanctions and trade risk

No elevated indicator

As of 7 November 2026, the screened UN, EU, UK, Swiss and US sanctions lists contain 158 companies, organisations, vessels and aircraft linked to Colombia.Lists last checked 2026-11-07 21:01 UTC.

Logistics profile: ports, airports, customs, documents, holidays, news ↓

No elevated country indicator for Colombia in the route rules Sanctioni uses. That is not a clearance: goods may still be export-controlled, and parties in Colombia may still be on a list.

Check a shipment to Colombia →

On the sanctions lists

158 entries on the official lists name Colombia — as nationality, address, registration or flag. That links them to the country; it says nothing about other companies there. The same company can appear on several lists and is then counted once per list. Individuals are not included — Sanctioni does not process them.

List	Entries	Companies & organisations	Vessels	Aircraft
US OFAC — Specially Designated Nationals (SDN)	158	158	—	—

Latest changes

No new listings or removals naming Colombia recorded yet.

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Logistics profile

Colombia: logistics and trade

Andean trade and transit hub with Pacific and Caribbean ports; export of coffee, coal, crude oil and cut flowers

Colombia (CO) lies in north-western South America as the continent's only country with both Pacific and Caribbean coastlines, making it a key Andean trade and transit gateway. It is a member of the Andean Community (CAN) and the Pacific Alliance. Customs authority: DIAN, using the electronic SYGA system and the VUCE single trade window; import VAT (IVA) is 19 percent on CIF plus duty (5 percent or exempt for selected goods). Main cargo airports: Bogotá El Dorado (BOG) and Medellín Rionegro (MDE). Key seaports: Cartagena (over 4.1 million TEU in 2025, Colombia's leading gateway), Buenaventura on the Pacific, Barranquilla and Santa Marta on the Caribbean. Main road corridor: Bogotá–Buenaventura and the Ruta del Sol to the Caribbean coast; Fenoco coal railway links La Loma with Santa Marta. Principal exports: coffee, coal, crude oil, cut flowers; main partners: USA, China and the EU.

Capital: Bogotá
Population: 53,057,212
Area: 1,141,748 km²
Currency: Colombian Peso (COP)
Continent: South America
Region: Latin America / Andean region
Economic area: Andean Community (CAN) / Pacific Alliance
Religions: Catholic, Protestant, Unknown
Access to the sea: Yes

Transport modes Road · Inland waterway

Current situation: Cartagena exceeded the 4,1 million TEU mark in 2025 and ranks among the largest ports in Latin America; Maersk is investing over 200 million USD in Colombian logistics infrastructure. Buenaventura recorded road blockades in October 2025 (Buga–Buenaventura), which were subsequently lifted; operations normal in summer 2026. New deep-water port Puerto Antioquia under construction. EU trade agreement fully ratified since 1.11.2024. (As of 2026-07-29)
Seasonal conditions: Two rainy seasons (roughly April to May and October to November); La Niña phases lead to floods and landslides that can disrupt road corridors and ports.

Main seaports

Cartagena
Cartagena (CO CTG), the Caribbean's largest transshipment port: 4.14M TEU in 2025 via SPRC and Contecar, free-trade zones, Colombia's main import-export gateway.
Buenaventura
Buenaventura (COBUN): Colombia's main Pacific port, about a third of foreign trade, 16.7M t in 2024. Containers, coffee, sugar via SPRBUN and TCBUEN.
Santa Marta
Santa Marta (CO SMR): Colombia's third-busiest port. Coal terminal, SMITCO container terminal, deep Caribbean berths for bulk and boxships.
Barranquilla
Barranquilla (COBAQ): Colombia's main Magdalena river port for bulk, grain, coke and containers; draft is limited, with Cartagena and Santa Marta as alternatives.
Covenas
Coveñas (CO CVE): crude oil export terminal on Colombia's Caribbean coast, end of the Caño Limón pipeline. Tankers only, no containers – use Cartagena or Barranquilla.
El Bosque
El Bosque (CO EBQ): multipurpose terminal in the Port of Cartagena, Colombia, for general cargo, bulk and vehicles; containers via Contecar/SPRC.

Main cargo airports

El Dorado International AirportBOG
El Dorado (BOG), Bogotá: Latin America's biggest cargo airport, 809,029 t (2024). New A330F freighter route to Caracas (2026). Avianca Cargo hub, flowers.
Jose Maria Córdova International AirportMDE
José María Córdova (MDE/SKRG), Rionegro/Medellín: Colombia's second airport, 90% of air cargo is cut flowers. Avianca and LATAM Cargo to Miami.
Alfonso Bonilla Aragon International AirportCLO
Alfonso Bonilla Aragón (CLO/SKCL), Cali: Colombia's fourth-largest cargo airport, flower and fruit exports, belly cargo and freighters, DIAN customs.
Ernesto Cortissoz International AirportBAQ
Ernesto Cortissoz International (BAQ), Barranquilla: one of Colombia's four largest cargo airports, own freight facilities, bonded warehousing and free zones.

Road corridors

Bogotá - Buenaventura
Ruta del Sol (Bogotá - Caribbean coast)
Medellín - Cartagena

Rail corridors

La Loma - Santa Marta coal railway (Fenoco)
Bogotá - Belencito

Inland ports

Barrancabermeja (Magdalena River)
La Dorada / Puerto Salgar

Main trade lanes

Colombia - USA
Colombia - China
Colombia - EU
Colombia - Latin America

Customs and import

Customs authority DIAN - Dirección de Impuestos y Aduanas NacionalesOfficial website ↗

Import customs system: Electronic import clearance by DIAN via the SYGA system; legal basis Estatuto Aduanero (Decreto 1165 de 2019). Declarations and authorizations via the Ventanilla Única de Comercio Exterior (VUCE).
Export customs system: Export via the DIAN with the electronic Declaración de Exportación (DEX) in the SYGA system; processing via the Ventanilla Única de Comercio Exterior (VUCE).
Import VAT: Import VAT standard rate 19 percent on CIF value plus customs duty; reduced rate 5 percent, individual goods 0 percent or exempt. Customs duty rates depending on tariff heading 0 to 35 percent.
Proofs of origin and trade agreements: Declaration of origin or EUR.1 for EU and EFTA; certificate of origin of the Andean Community and the Pacific Alliance; registered exporters depending on the agreement.
Restricted and prohibited goods: Weapons, ammunition and explosives only via the state-owned company Indumil. Import of used vehicles and tyres prohibited.

Typical import documents

Commercial invoice
Bill of lading (B/L) or air waybill (AWB)
Packing list
Proof of origin
Registro o Licencia de Importación (VUCE)
INVIMA or ICA approval if applicable

Typical export documents

Commercial invoice
Declaración de Exportación (DEX)
Packing list
Shipping document
Proof of origin
INVIMA or ICA certificate if applicable

Logistics conditions

Customs complexity: Medium to high
Customs delays: Medium
Port congestion: Medium
Dangerous goods relevance: Medium
Pharma and cold chain relevance: High
E-commerce relevance: Medium to high

Trade

Top import partners

United States China Brazil Mexico Germany

Top export partners

United States Mexico France

Top import goods

Electronic devices
Machinery
Vehicles
Pharmaceuticals
Mineral oils

Top export goods

Crude oil
Coal products
Gold
Coffee
Plants

Typical cargo

Coffee
Coal
Crude oil
Cut flowers
Bananas and fruit
Machinery
Consumer goods

Upcoming public holidays

Independence of Cartagena (observed)Mon, 16 Nov 2026 · businesses closed
Immaculate ConceptionTue, 8 Dec 2026 · businesses closed
Christmas DayFri, 25 Dec 2026 · businesses closed
New Year's DayFri, 1 Jan 2027 · businesses closed
Epiphany (observed)Mon, 11 Jan 2027 · businesses closed
St. Joseph's Day (observed)Mon, 22 Mar 2027 · businesses closed
Maundy ThursdayThu, 25 Mar 2027 · businesses closed
Good FridayFri, 26 Mar 2027 · businesses closed

Latest logistics news

Swissport Plans Entry into Colombia with GHI Majority Stake3 Oct 2026
Swissport plans entry into Colombia. The completion is still pending, but Bogotá and Medellín are important locations for time-critical air cargo.

Logistics questions

What is the import VAT (IVA) rate in Colombia?

The standard IVA rate is 19 percent, levied on the CIF value plus duty. A reduced rate of 5 percent or an exemption applies to certain goods.

Which authority handles customs clearance?

The DIAN (Dirección de Impuestos y Aduanas Nacionales) is responsible. Clearance is electronic via the SYGA system and the single trade window VUCE.

Does Switzerland benefit from a free trade agreement with Colombia?

Yes. The free trade agreement between the EFTA States and Colombia has been in force for Switzerland and Liechtenstein since 1 July 2011 and lowers tariffs with a valid proof of origin.

Which ports are most important for ocean freight?

Buenaventura on the Pacific handles most of the Asia trade; Cartagena, Barranquilla and Santa Marta on the Caribbean mainly serve North America and Europe.

Which airport is central for air cargo?

Bogotá El Dorado (BOG) is one of Latin America's largest cargo airports and a hub, among other things, for cut-flower exports in cold chains.

Which goods are subject to import restrictions or bans?

Weapons, ammunition and explosives are reserved for the state company Indumil. Imports of used vehicles and tyres are banned, as are goods of Iranian origin.

Which documents are typically required for an import?

Typically a commercial invoice, transport document (B/L or AWB), packing list, proof of origin and the import registration or licence via VUCE; depending on the goods, additional INVIMA or ICA permits.

Full logistics profile on Freight Academy ↗