Colombian Plastics Industry Grows 6.3%, Driven by Export Demand

Colombia’s plastics industry is experiencing solid growth, with a 6.3% increase in real production in March 2025 compared to the same month last year, according to official figures from DANE. For the first quarter of 2025, the sector posted a 3.4% expansion, outperforming the overall industrial average and signaling continued momentum in both production and trade.

A key factor behind this growth has been the steady rise in exports, especially to the United States and other Latin American markets. “We are exporting a wide range of products—from packaging films and rolls to pipes, caps, bottle preforms, and household items,” said Daniel Mitchell, CEO of Acoplásticos. “This international demand is playing a crucial role in driving the sector’s performance this year.”

Sector Recovery and Domestic Demand

Beyond exports, the industry is seeing renewed strength in specific segments. The construction plastics market, which had a tough 2024, is showing signs of recovery in early 2025. Meanwhile, the packaging sector continues to perform well, fueled by both foreign orders and improving domestic consumption.

These trends highlight the vital role of plastics in Colombia’s broader economy, with applications across key sectors such as food and beverages, hygiene and cleaning products, agriculture, construction, automotive, and consumer goods. The sector’s recent gains also demonstrate its ability to adapt to ongoing logistical, regulatory, and market challenges.

Call for Public Support and Long-Term Growth

“The plastics industry has great potential to keep growing, create formal jobs, and diversify Colombia’s export base,” Mitchell emphasized. “But to unlock this potential, we need public policies that support local manufacturing, encourage investment, and foster innovation and sustainability.”

Acoplásticos has urged policymakers and industry players to capitalize on this moment of growth to build a more competitive, circular, and globally integrated plastics industry that adds long-term value to Colombia’s economy while addressing environmental and social challenges.