During 2025, exports of fuels and extractive industry products fell 17.9%
Fuel exports fell in 2025. Photo: iStock
TL;DR
- Exports of fuels and extractive industry products fell by 17.9% in 2025, reaching US$19.19 billion.
- The decline was mainly due to a 17% drop in oil and derivatives sales and a 31.0% decrease in coal, coke, and briquettes.
- The coal sector is facing a deepened crisis due to excess global inventories, falling international prices, and unfavorable domestic policies.
- Exports of coal-related products decreased by 21.2% in volume and 31.8% in revenue in 2025.
- This situation threatens 130,000 direct jobs and around 650,000 in the entire supply chain, with potential for further losses.
- Measures like a permanent income surcharge, an additional 1% sales tax, and an increased withholding tax have harmed industry competitiveness.
- Rising costs, including those indexed to the minimum wage and increased logistics expenses, compromise the viability of many companies.
- Fenalcarbón warns that up to an additional 25% of jobs (around 150,000) could be lost if current trends continue.