Trade with China expands: RANGE, the Chinese company looking for business in Colombia

October 9, 2024

Trade with China is increasingly relevant for the Colombian economy. In this regard, Más Colombia spoke with a representative of the Chinese company RANGE, who shared his vision of the Colombian market.

China trade, container, china flag, imports, exports, Más Colombia

Colombia strengthens its trade relationship with China in a constantly evolving international trade context.

Más Colombia had the opportunity to interview a representative of RANGE, a Chinese company based in Taizhou, specialized in the manufacture of machinery for the production of polypropylene and polystyrene, as well as in the production of PET molds and preforms.

In this conversation, the businessman shared his company’s vision of the Colombian market and the opportunity they see to establish themselves in a country where the demand for plastic packaging continues to grow.

As RANGE seeks to strengthen its commercial network in Colombia, language and cultural differences emerge as barriers, but the company is determined to overcome them.

You may read: The growing importance of Chinese investment in Latin America: an economic analysis

RANGE: a global company with an eye on Colombia

The company that has built a commercial network in markets such as Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Korea, Japan, Russia and Australia, shared the vision about Colombia in trade with China and the challenges his company faces in this new territory.

The second line of business focuses on the manufacture of PET container molds and proformas, as well as closures, with an offer capable of supplying various industries. This could be particularly beneficial for the food and beverage industry in Colombia, where demand for plastic packaging continues to increase due to the growth of domestic consumption and the expansion of exports in sectors.

Language, one of the barriers to overcome

Despite this obstacle, the Chinese entrepreneur maintains a positive attitude and believes that, with time and the right tools, they will be able to overcome this barrier. “We hope that language will not be a difficulty in the future. We are offering support to people who have no experience in importing products, and we are giving them some logistical options that exist here in Colombia so that they can carry out this process without complications,” commented the company representative.

For RANGE, the establishment of an efficient import channel is key. The company is committed to guiding its potential partners in Colombia through the process of importing their products, and they are willing to provide logistical support to ensure a smooth transition. “We wholeheartedly wish that everything runs smoothly,” the representative emphasized.

trade with china, containers, china flag, Más Colombia

You may also read: Colombian confectionery exports grow 19%, further boost expected for Halloween

Colombia’s trade with China

China became the country’s second largest trading partner in 2010, after the United States, according to the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Trade (MinCit). In 2023, Colombia imported Chinese products for more than USD $13.6 billion and exported USD $2.47 billion.

Figures from the Regional Opportunities Map show that the main exports in trade with China are oil (43%), coal (13%) and ferronickel (12%).

Shein, Chinese retail, online shopping, e-commerce, Más Colombia

99.5% of Colombian imports from China are manufactured goods. Electrical appliances and equipment accounted for 26% of imports from China. In second place are nuclear reactors, boilers, machines and parts (17%), and in third place are plastic materials and iron and steel castings, which each represent 5% of imports in trade with China.

The export profile of trade with China is increasingly focused on imports of value-added manufactures, which its economies of scale allow it to produce with high competitiveness. Exports are concentrated in commodities traditionally sold by Colombia.