The Ministry of Commerce eases the sugar quota to the United States

The Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Tourism modified Circular 009 of December 24, 2025, to flexibilize the verification and reallocation of the export quota for sugar, panela, and products with sugar content to the United States. The decision was adopted through Circular 007 of 2026, signed by the Directorate of Foreign Trade and published in the Official Gazette, edition 53,649 of Monday, October 5, 2026, and responds to the logistical and road contingency derived from the earthquake of August 10, 2026, which affected transport operations to the Port of Buenaventura.

The regulation modifies sections “8. Verification of the use of assigned quotas” and “9. Reallocation of quotas” of Title I of Circular 009 of 2025, which regulates the distribution and administration of the export quota for sugar, panela, and products with sugar content within the framework of the Colombia – United States Trade Promotion Agreement for the 2026 term. The Ministry maintains that the contingency “could prevent compliance with the requirement to utilize seventy percent (70%) of the assigned quota.”

The quota was distributed by Circular 006 of 2026, dated September 30, 2026, which assigned 25,819 Metric Tons Raw Value (TMVC) of unrefined sugar and panela to be used between October 1, 2026, and September 30, 2027. Administration corresponds to the Sub-directorate of Design and Operations Administration, through the Foreign Trade Operations Design Group, and procedures are carried out in the “Export Quota” module of the Single Window for Foreign Trade (VUCE).

Verification of quota use: new dates

• First verification: between October 26 and November 5, 2026, exporters must report the utilization of the quotas granted in the initial allocation, attaching the Export Declarations through the VUCE module.
• Second verification: within five (5) business days following the end of the quota utilization period, exporters must report the use of the quota with the final declarations.
• Unused certificates must be returned via a letter signed by the legal representative, including the justification for non-utilization.
• The Foreign Trade Operations Design Group will send the verification information by email no later than January 11, 2027.

In the case of operations in the process of export, accreditation will be provided via the Shipment Authorization Request (SAE); for exports from Free Trade Zones, via the Goods Movement Form or the Export Declaration.

Reallocation of unused tons

Ten (10) months after the initial allocation, on November 9, 2026, the Ministry will review the utilization of the quota. If it identifies users who did not reach 70% of their quota, it will take the unused tonnage and initiate the reallocation process.

• November 11, 2026: publication on the VUCE of the tonnage available for reallocation by subheading and group.
• Until November 5, 2026: deadline to upload Export Declarations or Shipment Authorization Requests (SAE).
• November 13 to 23, 2026: reception of reallocation requests.
• November 27, 2026: publication of the tonnage reallocated to each user.
• November 30 to December 28, 2026: request for Eligibility Certificates for the reallocated quota, which must be used by December 28, 2026.
• The producer will be responsible for nationalizing their product at US customs by December 31, 2026.

Users who were not assigned a quota in the current contingency, as well as those who have used at least 70% of their allocation, may participate in the reallocation stage.

Impact for exporters and producers

The modification concentrates the usage reports, the return of quotas, and the reallocation in the last quarter of 2026, so that the tonnage unused due to the emergency can circulate again before the end of the term. Circular 007 of 2026 takes effect from its publication in the Official Gazette and maintains the allocation scheme between historical and new producers and exporters.

The adjustment provides additional margin to exporters who are unable to move their quota due to road restrictions toward Buenaventura, the main exit port for Colombian sugar cargo, and moves the closing of the quota operations to December 2026.

Source: Official Gazette, edition 53,649 of October 5, 2026, section I, page 21 (official reference: Circular 007 of 2026).