Cartagena: The Most Important Logistics and Export Hub in Colombia
Strategic Position and Economic Growth
Cartagena is home to Latin America’s most potent petrochemical cluster, serving as a key driver of business competitiveness and a benchmark in exports. The city has consolidated itself as one of Colombia’s most promising industrial cities, standing out for its strategic capacity as an engine for the country’s economic growth. The city has become Colombia’s key logistics and export hub thanks to its top-tier port infrastructure.
Geographical Advantage for International Trade
The city’s privileged geographical position in the Caribbean provides direct access to international markets, making it a crucial export platform for the country. As a vital logistics and export hub in Colombia, Cartagena connects Colombia with major international trade routes, strengthening its role as a key player in global commerce.
Industrial Clusters Boosting Competitiveness
With industrial clusters spanning key sectors such as petrochemicals, construction, and manufacturing, La Heroica boosts the productivity and competitiveness of local businesses, strengthening the city’s industrial base. This sustained growth in the industrial sector and creating quality jobs in the region underscores Cartagena’s prominence as a logistics and export hub in Colombia.
Mamonal Sustainable Eco-industrial Park
A prominent project in this sector is the Mamonal Sustainable Eco-industrial Park, an initiative driven by the Ecopetrol Group in collaboration with the National Business Association of Colombia (ANDI), the Ministry of Mines and Energy, and the Technological University of Bolívar. This project aims to improve environmental practices in the most potent chemical cluster in Latin America, located in Mamonal, which spans 10 kilometers. The park exemplifies how Cartagena is evolving as Colombia’s logistics and export hub, focusing on sustainability and eco-friendly industrial practices.
Sustainability and Circular Economy
The joint effort seeks to promote sustainability in the industrial sector by implementing environmentally responsible practices. Through this park, the goal is to establish an eco-industrial development model that will serve as a benchmark for the rest of the region. As Cartagena positions itself as a logistics and export hub in Colombia, sustainability is a key driver in enhancing its global competitiveness.
Innovative Industrial Practices
In an interview with El Universal about the growth and sustainability of the industrial sector in Cartagena, María Claudia Peñas, Regional Manager for Bolívar at ANDI, highlighted the significance of the Mamonal Sustainable Eco-industrial Park, a key project aimed at improving the environmental practices of local companies. The project is central to Cartagena’s evolution as a logistics and export hub in Colombia, fostering a circular economy that uses industrial waste to generate energy and reuse water.
Energy Solutions and Regional Impact
The pilot plan for the Eco-industrial Park aims to use company waste to generate energy and reuse water within the same industrial sector, promoting a circular economy. This project could also address energy issues in neighboring districts, such as Policarpa, Arroz Barato, and Puerta de Hierro. Cartagena continues to enhance its infrastructure, strengthening its position as a logistics and export hub in Colombia.
Adoption of Technology and Innovation
Industrial companies in Cartagena are increasingly adopting new technologies and innovations to improve their export competitiveness. Many are investing in more sustainable processes, such as reusing industrial waste, reducing carbon emissions, and transitioning to renewable energy sources. These efforts are crucial to Cartagena’s growth as a logistics and export hub in Colombia, as companies aim to access demanding markets that prioritize sustainability.
Investment Growth in Cartagena’s Industrial Sector
This key economic driver for the city has seen notable dynamism between January and September 2024, with significant investments. “134 investment opportunities have been managed, 17 new investment and reinvestment projects have been finalized in the industrial sector, including manufacturing, logistics, and energy transition, with over $380 million invested in this sector alone,” Peñas highlighted. These investments are essential to strengthening Cartagena’s logistics and export hub position in Colombia.
Export Performance and Market Demand
According to the latest Bolívar in Numbers report from the Chamber of Commerce of Cartagena, mineral fuels and oils, and products derived from their distillation, were the most exported products, totaling $860.7 million. Plastics and their manufactures ranked second, with $475.8 million, showing a 7% growth compared to 2023. Cast iron, steel, and steel products ranked third, with $89 million, marking a 16.9% increase in the same period in 2023. This growth highlights the significance of Cartagena as a logistics and export hub in Colombia.
Strong Connectivity and Export Growth
The National Administrative Department of Statistics (DANE) highlights Bolívar’s excellent export performance in line with this growth. In 2022, Bolívar accounted for nearly 12% of the country’s non-mining, non-energy exports. The dynamism of the export sector in Bolívar has been driven primarily by the excellent global connectivity of the Cartagena Port Group. Cartagena is well-equipped to meet international trade needs as Colombia’s logistics and export hub.
Free Zones and Industrial Expansion
Expanding and strengthening industrial free zones have also been key to the sector’s growth. Bolívar has become one of the most competitive free zones, the second department with the most authorized free zones in the country. It has 19 industrial parks, 10 of which are located in Cartagena and its surrounding area. This infrastructure is vital to Cartagena’s logistics and export hub development in Colombia.
Key Sectors Driving Cartagena’s Industrial Growth
Cartagena represents one of the most critical industrial engines in the region. “Our strength in exports remains in the petrochemical and plastics sectors, especially in the Mamonal Industrial Zone, which has proven to be a fundamental pillar of the regional and national economy, consolidating itself as one of the most important motors of the local industry. In second place is the casting, iron, or steel manufacturing sector, which continues to be a key area in Cartagena’s industrial value chain,” said Peñas. Cartagena’s industrial development reinforces its role as a logistics and export hub in Colombia.
Sustainability Efforts and Global Recognition
La Heroica is making significant strides in adopting responsible industrial practices, which not only enhance the competitiveness of local businesses but also position the city as a benchmark in Latin America. Among the most notable examples are large solar farms, which help reduce energy demand, aligning with global sustainability goals. Additionally, the environmental efforts of local companies are transforming industrial processes, improving efficiency, and reducing environmental impact. These innovations contribute to Cartagena’s growth as Colombia’s leading logistics and export hub.