Colombian dairy industry seeks trade review after milk-powder imports surge

Imports reach 28,160 tonnes in five months

Colombia’s cattle producers are asking the national government to review dairy trade conditions after a sharp increase in imports raised concerns about pressure on domestic milk production. The Colombian Cattle Federation, Fedegán, said 28,160 tonnes of milk powder entered the country between January and May 2026, principally from the United States, Chile and Bolivia.

According to figures reported by Infobae and Semana, the imported powder was equivalent to approximately 234 million litres of liquid milk. José Félix Lafaurie, Fedegán’s executive president, said this volume represented 16.3% of Colombia’s formal milk collection. Fedegán compared that share with 9.2% recorded during the whole of 2025, although the periods are not directly equivalent.

The federation also reported that imports of milk and dairy products increased 56.4% between January and May 2026 compared with the same period a year earlier. Whole and skimmed milk powder accounted for most of the imported volume, followed by whey and several types of cheese used for direct consumption and as inputs by other industries.

US trade liberalisation changes market conditions

Fedegán linked much of the increase to the Colombia-US Free Trade Agreement. Full tariff phase-out took effect on January 1, 2026, removing quotas and tariffs for most dairy products originating in the United States. The country remains Colombia’s leading external dairy supplier, according to the federation.

Lafaurie raised the issue in a letter to Agriculture Minister Indalecio Dangond. He asked the government to examine the effects of faster import growth on local production and to activate available trade-defence mechanisms. Neither Infobae nor Semana reported a government response or identified a specific safeguard measure requested by the federation.

Chile and Bolivia face origin scrutiny request

The industry’s concerns extend beyond US supplies. Fedegán said Chile had gained market share under its Economic Complementation Agreement with Colombia, while Bolivia had increased shipments of milk powder and dairy derivatives under trade arrangements within the Andean Community.

The federation called for closer verification of products arriving from Chile and Bolivia to ensure that tariff preferences apply only to goods meeting the rules of origin in the respective agreements. Fedegán stressed that the growth in shipments does not itself demonstrate irregularities. Its request focuses on determining why volumes increased and whether imported products qualify for preferential treatment.

Domestic producers face greater competition

Fedegán estimates that more than 300,000 families produce milk in Colombia, including a large number of small and medium-sized cattle farmers. The federation highlighted the Caribbean coast, where thousands of families operate dual-purpose systems combining milk production with calf rearing, often on narrow margins.

For processors and industrial buyers, greater access to imported powder, whey and cheese expands sourcing options. For domestic farmers, however, the volumes cited by Fedegán indicate stronger competition within the formal market. The government’s response will determine whether the issue remains one of origin verification and market monitoring or develops into a broader review of Colombia’s dairy trade protections.