On 18 March 2025, in Bucaramanga (Santander), students and labor unions marched through the city in support of the social reforms proposed by President Gustavo Petro (PH). The protests were called nationwide by the president after the announcement of the imminent defeat in Congress of the labor reform proposed by his government.

Supply-chain Risk Briefing: Bucaramanga Protests, Colombia

1. Summary

On March 18, 2025, a student-union coalition in Bucaramanga, Santander Province, Colombia conducted peaceful protests in support of President Petro's social reform agenda. The situation arose as the government's labor reform bill faces potential rejection in Congress, prompting the president to call for nationwide demonstrations. The protests are currently classified as peaceful, indicating low immediate supply-chain disruption risk.

2. Supply-chain impact

• Oil and coal transport monitoring: Santander Province is a major Colombian oil production region, with potential energy infrastructure accessibility impacts if protests expand
• Agricultural distribution networks: Bucaramanga serves as a logistics hub for inland agricultural areas, raising concerns about agricultural transport route delays if protests intensify
• Manufacturing production bases: Potential production disruptions if labor instability spreads to Santander Province industrial complexes
• Domestic logistics networks: Currently peaceful protests, but nationwide expansion risks reduced accessibility to major road networks and logistics centers

3. Watch points

• Protest scale expansion: Whether solidarity protests emerge in other regions following President Petro's nationwide protest call, and intensity changes
• Labor reform bill progress: Congressional voting results and escalating social tensions due to deepening government-Congress conflicts