Dried shelled lentils market in Colombia

Earlier Report Observations

The Colombian dried shelled lentils market is entirely import-dependent due to the unprofitability and low quality of local production, which has disappeared. Market volume grew from 69.7 thousand tons in 2018 to 108.1 thousand tons in 2020, with the COVID-19 pandemic boosting demand for shelf-stable foods like lentils.

After peaking in 2020, market volume fell to 85.9 thousand tons in 2021 and further to 77.2 thousand tons in 2022. This decline coincided with price increases for lentils driven by US dollar exchange rate fluctuations, making imports more expensive and reducing consumer demand.

In 2023, the market recovered to 84.3 thousand tons, indicating a partial rebound in consumption. Throughout the period, initiatives such as those by FAO to promote lentil cultivation in Colombia failed to significantly alter the market's reliance on imports.

Production dried shelled lentils in Colombia

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of dried shelled lentils, 2017-2020

World map of production of dried shelled lentils, 2017-2020

Colombia's dried shelled lentil production declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, production remained nearly unchanged at 1 315 tonnes compared to the previous year. The highest production level was recorded in 2018 at 1 325 tonnes. The largest decrease occurred in 2019 with a 0.4% drop, while the largest increase was in 2018 at 0.1%.

Annual dynamics of production in Colombia in kind, 2017-2020, t

Exports dried shelled lentils from Colombia

Exports in kind, K t

The market displayed an unstable trend throughout the period. Exports reached their lowest point in 2019 at 0.2 thousand tonnes, then peaked in 2020 at 1.3 thousand tonnes, representing a 696.3% increase year-over-year and an eightfold gap between these two years. The largest decline was recorded in 2019 at 76.5%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Colombia in kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, Venezuela and Chile were the core markets for Colombia's dried shelled lentil exports, together accounting for 99.6% of total export volumes.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Colombia in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, K $ US

The market showed signs of volatility during the observed period. Export value hit its lowest point in 2019 at 125 thousand US dollars, then surged to a peak in 2020 at 1 103 thousand US dollars, marking a 783.4% increase year-over-year and an 8.8-fold swing. The largest decline occurred in 2019 at 77.3%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Colombia in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Between 2017 and 2020, Venezuela and Chile formed the core of Colombia's dried shelled lentil exports in value terms, jointly representing 99.3% of total export flows.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Colombia in value, 2017-2020

Imports dried shelled lentils to Colombia

Imports in kind, K t

Colombia's dried shelled lentil import volume increased for the second consecutive year. In 2020, imports reached 108.0 thousand tonnes, showing a robust 24.9% advance compared to the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports grew by 30.8%, equivalent to an annualized rate of 9.3%. The lowest import volume was recorded in 2018 at 69.1 thousand tonnes, with the largest decline that year at 16.4%. The largest increase occurred in 2019 at 25.2%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Colombia in kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, Canada and the United States dominated Colombia's dried shelled lentil imports by volume, together accounting for 100.0% of total import flows.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Colombia in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, K $ US

After a two-year contraction, Colombia's dried shelled lentil imports in value terms increased. In 2020, import value totaled 65 063 thousand US dollars, which is 43.2% higher than the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports decreased by 19.2%, equating to an annualized rate of 6.9%. The lowest value was recorded in 2019 at 45 451 thousand US dollars, while the largest decline occurred in 2018 at 43.0%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Colombia in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Throughout 2017-2020, two key markets—Canada and the United States—dominated Colombia's dried shelled lentil imports in value terms, together accounting for 99.9% of total import flows.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Colombia in value, 2017-2020