Colombian exports in April were up 3.8% compared to the same month last year, but 13.8% down compared to March.
According to a report by the government statistics agency DANE, exports reached $4.88 billion in April 2012, a fall of $810 million from the $5.69 billion in exports registered in March.
There was an increase of 3.8% in April compared to the same month in 2011, which registered exports of $4.70 billion. The increase is in line with a 10% increase in the export of fuel and products from extractive industries for the same time period.
In April the United States was the principal recipient of Colombian exports, taking 40% of the total, followed by Spain with 6.1% and China with 4.4%. In March the United States was still the biggest importer, followed by China, with Spain coming in as the third biggest recipient.
During the first four months of 2012, Colombian exports grew 17.2%, mostly driven by a 35.1% increase in sales of fuels and petroleum products abroad.