Figures released by Colombia’s office for national statistics on Monday showed an overall decrease in production in the manufacturing sector for the year 2013 despite a positive month for December.
Colombia’s national statistics agency DANE reported that production levels (excluding the coffee industry) in 2013 were 1.9% lower than 2012.
The main contributors to the fall were the industries of vehicle manufacturing (-19.8%), paper and cardboard (-6.9%), publishing (-12.8%) and clothing (-5.6%).
This led to an overall drop of 1.7% in sales as a whole.
Despite this overall drop in production the comparison of December 2012 and December 2013 showed a 1.5% increase.
This rise was down to the improved output of the milling industry (35.3%), non-metallic minerals (7.4%), dairy products (15%) as well as iron and steel (11.5%).
Employment in the manufacturing sector saw a 2.2% decrease.
Despite the drop in Colombia’s manufacturing sector, the country’s overall economy is one of the strongest in the continent according to Finance Minister Mauricio Cardenas.
MORE: Colombia’s economy climbs to 3rd place in South American rankings
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