Latin America

Chemicals shipped to Colombia

Colombia's chemical demand spans pharmaceuticals, agriculture and energy. Generic drug makers in Bogotá, Medellín and Cali buy APIs, pharmaceutical intermediates and impurity reference standards, while cosmetics and personal care producers add demand for specialty ingredients. Cut flower growers around Bogotá and Medellín use agrochemicals, and the Mamonal industrial zone in Cartagena and Barranquilla host refining, petrochemicals, plastics and packaging. Coal and gold mining need inorganic chemicals and assay reagents. Zemixal ships sea freight from Nhava Sheva or Mundra to Cartagena, Barranquilla or Santa Marta on the Caribbean, or Buenaventura on the Pacific, with transit of roughly 30 to 45 days. Air cargo to Bogotá, Medellín or Cali usually takes 4 to 6 days. Every lot comes with a COA and a 16-section GHS SDS.

Colombia Logistics facts Documents

VapiNhava Sheva / MundraCartagenasea 30–45 daysBogotá El Dorado (BOG)air 4–6 days

Colombia at a glance

Logistics facts for Colombia
Capital	Bogotá
Currency	Colombian Peso (COP)
Languages	Spanish
Discharge seaports	Cartagena, Buenaventura, Barranquilla, Santa Marta
Arrival airports	Bogotá El Dorado (BOG), Medellín José María Córdova (MDE), Cali (CLO)
Sea transit from India	30–45 days port to port
Air transit	4–6 days
Chemical regulator	Ministry of Justice (controlled chemical substances) / MinAmbiente. GHS under Decree 1496 of 2018
Pharma regulator	INVIMA

Transit timeline by sea

1–2 daysQuote and document set agreed
Price, pack sizes, Incoterm and the paperwork list are confirmed in writing.
3–7 daysPacking for export
Stock items are packed in UN-rated drums or cartons. Made-to-order material adds its own lead time.
1–3 daysExport clearance at Nhava Sheva or Mundra
Shipping bill filed, dangerous goods declared under IMDG where needed.
30–45 daysOcean transit to Cartagena
Port-to-port time depends on the vessel schedule and any transhipment.
2–5 daysImport clearance
Your broker clears the goods against local rules. Chemical oversight: Ministry of Justice (controlled chemical substances) / MinAmbiente. GHS under Decree 1496 of 2018.

Indicative door to door by sea: 37–62 days

By air the same journey usually takes 8–16 days from order to delivery.

Importing chemicals into Colombia

APIs and finished medicines need INVIMA registration or import authorisation. Many solvents and reagents used in drug manufacture are controlled chemical substances, and the buyer needs a certificate from the Ministry of Justice before import. Colombia has adopted the GHS for classification and labelling under Decree 1496 of 2018. Imports are processed through VUCE and DIAN, and dangerous goods need IMDG or IATA documentation. Allow time for these certificates when planning your first order, because controlled items cannot ship until they are issued.

Main buying sectors

Generic pharmaceuticalsCut flowers & agrochemicalsPetroleum refining & petrochemicalsCosmetics & personal careFood & beveragePlastics & packagingCoal & gold mining

Industrial hubs we deliver to

Bogotá · Medellín · Cali · Barranquilla · Cartagena (Mamonal)

Document checklist

Commercial Invoice
Packing List
Bill of Lading / Air Waybill
Certificate of Origin
Certificate of Analysis (COA)
Safety Data Sheet (16-section GHS)
INVIMA import authorisation or registration for APIs and medicines
Ministry of Justice certificate for controlled chemical substances where applicable
VUCE import registration or licence where required
Dangerous Goods Declaration (IMDG/IATA) where applicable

The exact set depends on product, quantity and end use. We confirm it in writing with every quotation.

Why buyers in Colombia order from Zemixal

Zemixal helps Colombian pharma and agro buyers plan around controlled-substance rules, with GHS-aligned documents and shipping to Cartagena or Buenaventura.

By division

What we supply to Colombia

Ordered by how often buyers in Colombia ask for them.

APIs

Bulk active pharmaceutical ingredients across anti-infective, CNS, cardiovascular, metabolic,…

385 products

Pharmaceutical Intermediates

Organic and heterocyclic building blocks, key starting materials and API process intermediates…

14,468 products

Lab Reagents

Reagent-grade salts, acids, indicators, titrants, standard solutions and synthesis reagents fo…

3,487 products

Specialty Chemicals

Polymers, monomers, dyes, flavours, essential oils, water treatment and process chemicals for…

876 products

Solvents (HPLC & GC)

HPLC, LC-MS, GC, spectroscopy, anhydrous and bulk solvents in bottles to drums, packed for saf…

590 products

Impurity Reference Standards

Pharmacopoeial impurities, nitrosamines, metabolites, labelled internal standards and API work…

20,060 products

Biochemicals

Amino acids, buffers, carbohydrates, enzyme substrates, nucleotides, media, stains and natural…

2,841 products

Inorganics & Metals

Inorganic salts, rare earths, high-purity metals, nanomaterials, sputtering targets, optics an…

5,293 products

APIs: a sample for Colombia

APIs for Colombia

Erythromycin

CAS: 114-07-8
Formula: C₃₇H₆₇NO₁₃
MW: 733.9 g/mol

ZX-003925

Fusidic Acid

CAS: 6990-06-3
Formula: C₃₁H₄₈O₆
MW: 516.7 g/mol

ZX-003926

Gatifloxacin

CAS: 112811-59-3
Formula: C₁₉H₂₂FN₃O₄
MW: 375.4 g/mol

ZX-003927

Gentamicin Sulphate

CAS: 1405-41-0
Formula: C₆₀H₁₂₅N₁₅O₂₅S
MW: 1488.8 g/mol

ZX-003928

Isoniazid

CAS: 54-85-3
Formula: C₆H₇N₃O
MW: 137.14 g/mol

ZX-003929

Levofloxacin

CAS: 100986-85-4
Formula: C₁₈H₂₀FN₃O₄
MW: 361.4 g/mol

ZX-003930

Linezolid

CAS: 165800-03-3
Formula: C₁₆H₂₀FN₃O₄
MW: 337.35 g/mol

ZX-003931

Meropenem

CAS: 119478-56-7
Formula: C₁₇H₃₁N₃O₈S
MW: 437.5 g/mol

ZX-003932

Cities in Colombia

Bogotá Cundinamarca

Questions

Shipping to Colombia

Which of our solvents need a Ministry of Justice certificate?

Many common solvents and reagents are controlled in Colombia. Send your list in the enquiry, and we flag items that typically require the certificate. The Colombian buyer holds the certificate, and we ship controlled items only once it is in place.

Can Bogotá generic producers order impurity standards by air?

Yes. Impurity reference standards usually fly to Bogotá, Medellín or Cali in about 4 to 6 days after dispatch. Each comes with a COA and characterisation data such as HPLC, NMR and MS where relevant. Search by name, CAS number or ZX catalogue number.

Is Cartagena or Buenaventura better for Colombian buyers?

Cartagena and Barranquilla suit the Caribbean coast and many inland routes, while Buenaventura serves Cali and the southwest. Sea transit from India is roughly 30 to 45 days. We quote the port that best fits your site and inland logistics.

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