Production in the Colombian manufacturing industry (excluding coffee processing) decreased by three percent in December 2012 compared to the same month of 2011, as announced by the Colombian National Administrative Department of Statistics (DANE).
In 2012, Colombia's manufacturing production remained stable on year-on-year basis, while Colombia's basic iron and steel production increased by 10.1 percent compared to the previous year.
Last year, Colombia's iron and steel exports value rose by 10.7 percent compared to the previous year, coming to $1.15 billion, with 324,966 mt, up 8.3 percent year on year, while the country's iron and steel import value decreased 3.9 percent year on year to $2.65 billion.
Meanwhile, Colombia exported 13,293 mt of ferronickel in December 2012, up 26.1 percent compared to December 2011, with a value of $71 million, rising 12.4 percent year on year. In 2012, Colombian ferronickel exports amounted to 146,658 mt, up 31.4 percent year on year, worth $881 million, rising by 6.6 percent compared 2011.