The evolution of Colombian livestock exports: From basic markets to specialized destinations

The history of Colombian exports is closely linked to Venezuela, especially during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Venezuela’s proximity and demand provided a straightforward market, with simple logistics involving mostly land transport and basic refrigeration requirements. However, the Venezuelan market began to decline around 2009, forcing Colombia to look for new opportunities. Cubillos describes this period as an “illusion” for the Colombian livestock industry. The Venezuelan boom provided a temporary boost, but its eventual closure left a void that Colombia had to fill by exploring other international markets. This change was not only geographical, but also in the sophistication of logistics and technology involved in meat exports. The rise of specialized markets Today, the Colombian export landscape is very different. As Cubillos described, thanks to the management of the Colombian Federation of Cattle Ranchers (Fedegán), through the Price Stabilization Fund (FEP), dynamism ...