Colombia's National Administrative Department of Statistics (Dane) reported that manufacturing production rose 1.9% in October 2025 compared to October 2024. Manufacturing sales grew 2.4%, and employed personnel increased 0.7%. Bruce Mac Master, president of Andi, highlighted sectoral heterogeneity and the importance of the year's final months.
The Dane published the results of the Monthly Manufacturing Survey for October 2025, showing a 1.9% growth in real manufacturing production year-over-year. Manufacturing sales advanced 2.4%, and employed personnel recorded a 0.7% increase, chaining a semester of positive variations.
Of the 39 industrial activities analyzed, 25 showed positive variations in real production. The highest growths were in the manufacture of engines and motor vehicles at 35.1%, followed by other types of transport equipment at 23.1%, and furniture, mattresses, and bedsteads at 12.8%. In real sales, engine and motor vehicle manufacturing led with 26%, and in employed personnel with 24.3%. Coffee threshing grew 10.9% in production and 0.5% in sales.
However, declines persisted in five more activities than in previous months: basic iron and steel industries (-14.7%), rubber products (-8.9%), and milling products, starches, and derivatives (-11.3%). The Caldas department recorded the largest advance in production (17%) and sales (16.7%), while Córdoba led in employed personnel (5.5%).
Bruce Mac Master, president of Andi, commented: "While some activities have achieved sustained growth like coffee threshing and consumption of goods like motorcycles, there still persists a marked heterogeneity between sectors, such as the automotive that remains lagging. In this context, the last two months of the year are determinant to consolidate the industrial close".
In the general industrial production index, Dane reported a 1.1% increase, driven by water services. Three of four sectors grew: manufacturing (1.9%), electricity and gas (1.9%), and water (2.7%), while mining fell 2.9%. Of 26 activities, 18 were positive, contributing 2.4 percentage points. For January-October, the cumulative was 0.4%.
Mac Master also pointed out challenges like economic and political uncertainty, geopolitical tensions, and insecurity, which affect chains like mining-energy and construction, requiring attention for sustained growth in 2026.
