Production, refining and reserves
| Commodity | Metric | Value | World rank · share | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Copper | Mine production 2022 | 6,817 t Cu content | #45 · 0% | USGS Minerals Yearbook 2022 (copper), table 20 |
| Nickel | Mine production 2024 | 44,730 t Ni content | — | World Mining Data 2026 |
| Nickel | Refinery production 2023 | 38,708 t Ni content (primary nickel products) | #13 · 1% | USGS Minerals Yearbook 2023 (nickel, tables-only release), table 12 |
| Nickel | Reserves 2018 | 440,000 t Ni content | #12 · 0.5% | USGS MCS 2019 |
| Platinum | Mine production 2023 | 637 kg Pt content | #8 · 0.4% | USGS Minerals Yearbook 2023 (platinum-group metals, tables-only release), table 5 |
| Phosphate rock | Mine production 2022 | 11,000 t P2O5 content | — | USGS Minerals Yearbook 2022 (advance data release), The Mineral Industry of Colombia, table 1 |
| Iron ore | Mine production 2022 | 410,000 t Fe content | — | USGS Minerals Yearbook 2022 (advance data release), The Mineral Industry of Colombia, table 1 |
| Silver | Mine production 2022 | 35,836 kg Ag content | — | USGS Minerals Yearbook 2022 (advance data release), The Mineral Industry of Colombia, table 1 |
| Feldspar | Mine production 2022 | 132,322 t feldspar (gross weight) | — | USGS Minerals Yearbook 2022 (advance data release), The Mineral Industry of Colombia, table 1 |
| Gold | Mine production 2024 | 60 t Au content | — | USGS MCS 2025 |
| Gold | Reserves 2024 | 700 t Au content | #15 · 1% | USGS MCS 2025 |
Policies and export measures
Policy tracker →2023-11-30 · trade measure
ANM Resolution 1006 of 2023 listing 17 groups of minerals of strategic interest
The National Mining Agency named 17 mineral groups of strategic interest: copper, nickel, zinc, platinum-group metals, iron, manganese, metallurgical coal, phosphates, magnesium minerals, bauxite and other aluminium minerals, gold, emeralds, sand, gravel and clay for construction, silica sand and silicon, limestone, gypsum and chromium. The list lets the agency reserve special areas for these minerals and allocate them by competitive selection. It replaced the Ministry of Mines' 2012 list (Resolution 18 0102) and is to be reviewed at least every three years. Signed 30 November 2023 and in force on publication.
Source: Agencia Nacional de Minería (ANM), Colombia2023-05-19 · incentive
National Development Plan 2022-2026 (Law 2294 of 2023), Article 229: strategic mining reserve areas for the energy transition
Tells the Ministry of Mines and Energy and the Colombian Geological Survey to draw up a National Geoscience Knowledge Plan that includes prospecting for minerals needed for the energy transition, industry, food security and public infrastructure. Under it the mining authority may delimit strategic mining reserve areas with high potential for these minerals and grant them to small and medium miners organised in associations. Law 2294 was published in the Diario Oficial on 19 May 2023.
Source: Secretaría General del Senado de la República de Colombia (Diario Oficial No. 52.400)2018-07-27 · ban
Law 1930 of 2018 banning mining exploration and extraction in páramos
The comprehensive páramo management law prohibits mineral exploration and mining, as well as oil and gas activity, in delimited páramo ecosystems. The Ministry of Mines and Energy and the National Mining Agency must prepare a substitution programme covering closure, dismantling and restoration of mined areas and relocation or retraining of traditional small miners. Dated and published in the Diario Oficial on 27 July 2018.
Source: Secretaría General del Senado de la República de Colombia (Diario Oficial No. 50.667)
Trade in critical minerals
Exports 2024$1.2 bn
- Nickel$566 mto China 51%, Netherlands 16%, South Korea 9% · 18 more
- Copper$473 mto China 53%, India 20%, South Korea 15% · 21 more
- Aluminium$106 mto Malaysia 22%, Brazil 20%, India 15% · 22 more
- Platinum$28 mto Switzerland 38%, United States of America 18%, Germany 17% · 4 more
- Manganese*$14 mto United States of America 71%, Thailand 12%, Brazil 7% · 7 more
- Tin$4 mto China 100%, Netherlands 0%
- Lead$4 mto South Korea 45%, United States of America 18%, India 15% · 3 more
- Potash$2 mto Venezuela 37%, Belgium 35%, Ecuador 20% · 7 more
and 20 more commodities
Imports 2024$386 m
- Potash$165 mfrom Canada 61%, Germany 16%, Russia 13% · 15 more
- Aluminium$77 mfrom Brazil 34%, South Africa 17%, India 12% · 32 more
- Zinc$34 mfrom Peru 88%, Spain 2%, Japan 2% · 14 more
- Manganese*$24 mfrom India 64%, Brazil 26%, Mexico 4% · 13 more
- Phosphate rock$13 mfrom Morocco 99%, China 1%, United States of America 0% · 2 more
- Lead$8 mfrom Mexico 37%, Venezuela 27%, Ecuador 21% · 3 more
- Barite$7 mfrom Morocco 56%, Peru 23%, Türkiye 12% · 7 more
- Boron*$7 mfrom Bolivia 46%, Peru 31%, Türkiye 14% · 12 more
and 31 more commodities
Trade values in current US dollars (ores, concentrates, intermediates, chemicals and refined metal), not prices. * Includes HS codes that also cover other products. Source: CEPII BACI (HS22), Etalab Open Licence 2.0 — details.
Fiscal regime for mining
| Instrument | Applies to | Rate | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royalty | NickelNickel (Cerro Matoso legacy contract splits 4% royalty / 4% compensation) | 12%value of production at the mine mouth (boca o borde de mina) | Ley 141 de 1994, Art. 16 modificado por Art. 16 de la Ley 756 de 2002 · Art. 16in force 2002-07-25 |
| Royalty | Iron ore, CopperIron and copper; also platinum 5%, other metallic minerals 5% | 5%value of production at the mine mouth (boca o borde de mina) | Ley 141 de 1994, Art. 16 modificado por Art. 16 de la Ley 756 de 2002 · Art. 16in force 2002-07-25 |
| Royalty | Gold, SilverGold and silver 4%; alluvial gold under concession contracts 6%; mine-mouth value of gold, silver, platinum = 80% of last month's average LME PM price (Par. 9) | 4%value of production at the mine mouth (boca o borde de mina) | Ley 141 de 1994, Art. 16 modificado por Art. 16 de la Ley 756 de 2002 · Art. 16, Par. 9in force 2002-07-25 |
| Royalty | Platinum | 5%value of production at the mine mouth (boca o borde de mina) | Ley 141 de 1994, Art. 16 modificado por Art. 16 de la Ley 756 de 2002 · Art. 16in force 2002-07-25 |
| Royalty | Uranium, ThoriumRadioactive minerals | 10%value of production at the mine mouth (boca o borde de mina) | Ley 141 de 1994, Art. 16 modificado por Art. 16 de la Ley 756 de 2002 · Art. 16in force 2002-07-25 |
| Royalty | SaltSalt (price net of freight and processing, Par. 8) | 12%value of production at the mine mouth (boca o borde de mina) | Ley 141 de 1994, Art. 16 modificado por Art. 16 de la Ley 756 de 2002 · Art. 16in force 2002-07-25 |
| Royalty | All mineralsNon-metallic minerals 3% (limestone, gypsum, clays, gravel and construction materials 1%; emeralds and other precious stones 1.5% under Art. 17); minerals not previously subject to royalties 3% (Art. 18) | 3%value of production at the mine mouth (boca o borde de mina) | Ley 141 de 1994, Art. 16 modificado por Art. 16 de la Ley 756 de 2002 · Art. 16-18in force 2002-07-25 |
Rates and terms as set in the cited law or regulation; agreements with individual projects can differ. Not legal or tax advice.
Mines and facilities (2)
Latest news
All news →No news items for Colombia yet.