Colombia's woodpulp is from plantations or sawmill waste. Imports covered 34 percent of apparent consumption while 11 percent of national output was exported. The growth of almost 10 percent in 1996 was largely due to increased exports of packaged goods. Production did not increase because of a strike in one of the mills. Imports rose more than exports for this grade of paper.
All newsprint used in Colombia is imported.
The total fell by 24 percent in 1996 because of stock changes and low demand. In contrast to the general economic trend, the paper industry performed better in the first semester than in the second. First semester The first semester of 1997 was good, with pulp production increasing by 17 percent and apparent consumption by 18 percent. Paper and paperboard consumption increased by 13 percent and production by 7 percent. Consumption fell for kraft sack paper, folding boxboard and other paper for bags and wrapping.