National Pork Board Reviews Industry Successes in Colombia

National Pork Board (NPB) representatives joined USMEF in Medellin, Colombia, for an in-depth review of the industry's market development programs in this rapidly growing market. Since the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement was implemented, U.S. pork exports to Colombia have increased from $29 million in 2011 to a record $365 million in 2025. Exports are again on a record pace this year.

NPB officers Jesse Heimer, Alayne Johnson and Gordon Spronk, and CEO Dr. David Newman and VP of International Market Development Andy Tauer participated in a five-day study of the Colombian market. USMEF's Dan Halstrom, John Hinners, Homero Recio and several Colombia representatives hosted the team, beginning with a market overview and meeting with the Foreign Agricultural Service. USMEF also coordinated meetings with importers and distributors, and arranged tours of distribution facilities and a variety of retail channels. Time was also dedicated to meeting buyers and touring traditional retail markets, where an estimated 70% of U.S. pork is destined.

"Pork Board officers were aware of U.S. pork's export success in Colombia, but seeing the market in person and its potential helps bring home the importance of market diversification for the industry," says Halstrom. "They talked with numerous buyers and expressed appreciation for the relationships developed with the trade on behalf of the U.S. industry."