A study by Colombia’s national statistics agency DANE found that sales of commodities such as soda, swimsuits and beer have steadily increased due to changing weather patterns and higher temperatures, reported Portfolio.com on Thursday.
Increased temperatures throughout the country have meant that sales of items such as water, soda, beer, juice, ice cream, air conditioners, fans, sun block, bathing suits and even tour packages have been growing since the start of the heat wave, despite a general reduction in consumer spending.
Beverage companies Bavaria and Coca-Cola have both recorded a correlation between rising temperatures, and increased manufacture of and demand for their products.
The manager of Colombian textile company Invista, Camilo Montoya, said that his company has had to adapt to meet increased demand for swimwear and other heat-specific clothing.
“We will take full advantage while the heat lasts in the country. This is a dynamic and sometimes difficult sector and we have to get used to the fact that if it’s cold we will make appropriate clothes and if it’s hot we will act accordingly,” he said.
Further statistics from Colombia’s Association of Hotels, Cotelco, shows that hotel occupancy for 2010 stood at 65%, compared to 52% in 2009, reflecting an increase in national and international tourism in the country.
The current period of drought and high temperatures began in August 2009 and is attributed to the “El Nino” phenomenon. Environmental agency Ideam predicts that the drought will continue until April this year.
Environmental consequences of the drought include 26,000 hectares of land destroyed by wildfires and major rivers running dry.
