Reuters reported that Colombia's exports soared by 36.2% YoY in September 2011 to USD 4.48 billion as compared with the same month a year earlier, driven by oil and petroleum products.

The government's statistics agency said that traditional exports including coal, oil, coffee and ferronickel rose 56.3% to USD 3.07 billion in September 2011 and volumes climbed 28.2% in the month.

The value of exports of crude and oil products in September 2011 rose by 52.7% YoY to USD 2.05 billion. Coal exports increased by 86.8% YoY to USD 804 million and volumes rose by 37% YoY to 7.25 million tonnes.

DANE said in a statement that rising commodity prices have helped push up sales for Colombia's main export commodities of coal, oil and coffee.

Revenues from non traditional exports such as flowers, food and textiles rose by 6.3% YoY to USD 1.4 billion, while their combined volumes fell 9.7%.

(Sourced from www.reutetrs.com)