Supply Chain Research

Colombia’s November trade deficit of $1.3 billion was 35% wider than economists expected after imports fell just 2% on a year earlier. This was likely the result of a 20% bounce in food purchases. Exports jumped 13%, the fastest rate since November 2012, due to a 219% rise in non-monetary gold shipments. U.S.-bound goods provided the most growth at 47%, though an 11% expansion in shipments to Ecuador show a breadth to the export recovery. Venezuela remains the problem area, with exports hitting a new low – another decline is likely in December as the border remained closed.