Country Guide
Exporting from Colombia to Brazil
CAN-Mercosur partial preferences under ACE 59. Coal and petrochemicals dominate, with palm oil and flowers as growing sectors.
ACE 59: CAN-Mercosur PTAColombia is Brazil's 23rd largest import origin and an increasingly important energy supplier. The ACE 59 (CAN-Mercosur) agreement provides partial preferential access — not full free trade, but reduced tariffs on selected product lines. Trade is concentrated in coal, petrochemicals (PVC from Ecopetrol's downstream operations), and palm oil. Colombia's geographic proximity (shared Amazon border) facilitates overland trade routes.
ACE 59: partial preferences (CAN-Mercosur)
Colombia benefits from the ACE 59 agreement between the Andean Community (CAN) and Mercosur. Coverage is partial — not all tariff lines are included, and preferences range from 20% to 100% reduction depending on the product. Check your specific NCM code for applicable rates.
Trade Data: Colombia → Brazil
Source: UN Comtrade 2023Brazil reports 24.9% more imports from Colombia than Colombia reports in exports. This CIF/FOB spread is typical — Brazil values at CIF (including freight & insurance), while Colombia values at FOB (port of departure). Large gaps can also indicate re-exports through third countries.
Top Colombian exports to Brazil by value
2023 FOB values in USD| # | Product | 2023 Value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2704.00Coke and semi-coke; of coal, lignite or peat, whether or not agglomerated; retor... | $437.8M | Duties → |
| 2 | 2701.12Coal; bituminous, whether or not pulverised, but not agglomerated | $358.1M | Duties → |
| 3 | 3904.10Vinyl chloride, other halogenated olefin polymers; poly(vinyl chloride), not mix... | $175.3M | Duties → |
| 4 | 3808.92Fungicides; other than containing goods specified in Subheading Note 1 to this C... | $119.2M | Duties → |
| 5 | 1511.10Vegetable oils; palm oil and its fractions, crude, not chemically modified | $111.9M | Duties → |
| 6 | 3902.10Propylene, other olefin polymers; polypropylene in primary forms | $94.7M | Duties → |
| 7 | 3902.30Propylene, other olefin polymers; propylene copolymers in primary forms | $55.2M | Duties → |
| 8 | 2710.19Petroleum oils and oils from bituminous minerals, not containing biodiesel, not ... | $37.1M | Duties → |
| 9 | 3903.19Styrene polymers; (other than expansible polystyrene), in primary forms | $36.9M | Duties → |
| 10 | 2803.00Carbon; carbon blacks and other forms of carbon n.e.c. | $34.7M | Duties → |
| 11 | 3903.90Styrene polymers; in primary forms, n.e.c. in heading no. 3903 | $25.1M | Duties → |
| 12 | 3808.91Insecticides; other than containing goods specified in Subheading Notes 1 & 2 to... | $21.8M | Duties → |
| 13 | 7404.00Copper; waste and scrap | $21.4M | Duties → |
| 14 | 7602.00Aluminium; waste and scrap | $18.0M | Duties → |
| 15 | 4011.20Rubber; new pneumatic tyres, of a kind used on buses or lorries | $15.2M | Duties → |
| 16 | 3506.91Adhesives; prepared, based on polymers of heading 3901 to 3913 or on rubber | $14.9M | Duties → |
| 17 | 3808.93Herbicides, anti-sprouting products and plant-growth regulators; other than cont... | $13.1M | Duties → |
| 18 | 4811.41Paper and paperboard; self-adhesive, in rolls or sheets, other than goods of hea... | $12.1M | Duties → |
| 19 | 5902.10Textile fabrics; tyrecord of high tenacity yarn of nylon or other polyamides | $12.0M | Duties → |
| 20 | 3102.60Fertilizers, mineral or chemical; nitrogenous, double salts and mixtures of calc... | $11.4M | Duties → |
Values in USD, FOB (Colombia port of departure). Trend compares 2023 vs 2022. Click any HS code for Brazil duty rates and Ex-Tarifário status.
Key product categories and tariff strategy
| Product | MFN duty | ACE 59 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coal & petroleum coke Bituminous coal, pet coke | 0-6% | 0% ACE 59 | View HS 27 → |
| Plastics PVC, polypropylene, copolymers | 14% | Partial preference | View HS 39 → |
| Oils & fats Crude palm oil, palm kernel oil | 10% | Reduced | View HS 15 → |
| Chemicals Fungicides, agrochemicals | 14% | Partial preference | View HS 38 → |
| Inorganic chemicals Carbon black, chlorine | 0-14% | Reduced | View HS 28 → |
| Flowers Cut flowers, roses, carnations | 10% | 0% ACE 59 | View HS 06 → |
Coal: Brazil's energy security
Colombia is Latin America's largest coal producer and a key supplier to Brazil's steel and energy sectors:
- Bituminous coal (HS 2701): over $920M — metallurgical and thermal coal
- Petroleum coke (HS 2704): over $1.5B — for cement and aluminum industries
- 0% or near-0% duty under both MFN and ACE 59
- Geographic advantage: shorter shipping routes than Russian or Australian coal
Petrochemicals: Ecopetrol's downstream
Colombia's petrochemical sector, anchored by Ecopetrol, supplies Brazil's manufacturing:
- PVC (HS 3904): over $366M — polyvinyl chloride for construction
- Polypropylene and copolymers: competes with Braskem's domestic production
- 14% MFN duty — ACE 59 may provide partial reductions on some lines
Palm oil: growing export
Colombia is Latin America's largest palm oil producer:
- Crude palm oil (HS 1511): over $250M — for food processing and biodiesel
- Competitive with Southeast Asian suppliers due to geographic proximity
- MAPA phytosanitary requirements apply
MAPA-authorized establishments
Source: SIGSIF/DIPOA5 Colombian facilities are authorized by Brazil's Ministry of Agriculture to export animal products.
Regulatory requirements
- ANP — coal and petroleum products require ANP authorization
- MAPA — palm oil, flowers, and agricultural products
- IBAMA — environmental licensing for chemical imports
- Certificate of Origin — required from Colombian Chamber of Commerce for ACE 59 preferences
Practical next steps
- Find your product's NCM code
- Check ACE 59 preferential rate for your specific NCM code
- Obtain Certificate of Origin from Colombian Chamber of Commerce
- Calculate the full landed cost