Coal exports to Israel resume after repealing ban in effect since 2024

The national Government resumed coal exports to the State of Israel through Decree number 1514 of 2026, issued on October 9, 2026, and published on the same day in the Official Gazette (Edition 53,653). The regulation repeals the prohibition in effect since 2024 and restores the general export regime for thermal coals classified under tariff subheading 2701.12.00.10.

The decree was signed by the President of the Republic, Abelardo de la Espriella, along with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ómar Bula Escobar; the Minister of Finance and Public Credit, Miguel Gómez Martínez; the Minister of Mines and Energy, María Nohemí Arboleda Arango, and the Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Tourism, Mauricio Gómez Amín. The decision was adopted in exercise of articles 226, 227, and numeral 25 of article 189 of the Political Constitution, subject to Law 7 of 1991 and Law 1609 of 2013.

Repeal of the Prohibition

Article 1 repeals in its entirety Decree number 1047 of August 14, 2024, “by which a prohibition on coal exports to Israel is established,” and Decree number 0949 of August 28, 2025, which modified the former and extended the restriction “without exception” to all exports.

Article 2 provides that, as of the regulation’s entry into force, exports of thermal coals shall be governed by the general export regime, without prejudice to applicable customs, exchange, tax, environmental, origin, and control obligations, as well as prohibitions derived from binding resolutions of the United Nations Security Council.

Transition Regime and Favorability

Article 3 establishes that export operations in process as of the date of entry into force shall continue their course according to the restored general regime. An operation is understood to be in process when the customs authority has accepted the Shipment Authorization Request, pursuant to article 351 of Decree number 1165 of 2019.

Ongoing administrative sanctioning and seizure proceedings for acts related exclusively to the repealed prohibition shall be resolved according to the principle of favorability provided for in paragraph 4 of article 4 of Law 1609 of 2013 and numeral 1 of article 2 of Law 2586 of 2026, which orders the customs authority to officially apply the regulations that favor the interested party.

International Basis and Sector Figures

The preamble invokes Resolution number 2803 of November 17, 2025, of the United Nations Security Council, which endorsed the ceasefire plan and stabilization framework for the Gaza Strip, and letter S/2026/418 of May 15, 2026. It also cites the order of the International Court of Justice of May 21, 2026, which set November 22, 2027, for South Africa’s Reply and May 22, 2029, for Israel’s Surrejoinder.

The Committee on Customs, Tariff, and Foreign Trade Affairs, in session 403 on August 18, 2026, recommended restoring coal exports to Israel. The project was submitted for public consultation between August 11 and 15, 2026.

According to the report from the Office of Economic Studies of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Tourism, the ban accentuated the sector’s downward trend:

• Between 2024 and 2025, exports to that destination decreased by 140.7 million FOB dollars and by 1,363 tons.
• In 2026, no export flow toward Israel is reported.

The decree takes effect from the day following its publication in the Official Gazette, based on the exception in paragraph 2 of article 2 of Law 1609 of 2013.

The measure reactivates a relevant market for the coal-producing departments of Cesar and La Guajira and for national exporters, and reverses a high-profile foreign policy restriction that had completely closed the Israeli destination.

Source: Official Gazette of Colombia, Edition 53,653 of October 9, 2026, Decrees section (Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Tourism), pgs. 15-17 (official reference: Decree number 1514 of 2026).