On 18 March 2025, in Bogota - La Candelaria (Bogota, D.C.), thousands of people marched from 11 different points in the city to Bolivar Square 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. Indigenous groups, farmers, students, labor unions, and teachers participated in the demonstrations. Some protesters painted graffiti on private and public properties, while others threw paint and verbally harassed a team of journalists covering the protests.

Supply-chain Risk Briefing

1) Summary On March 18, 2025, a large-scale peaceful protest occurred in Bogotá, Colombia, supporting President Petro's social reforms. With the congressional rejection of labor reform bills imminent, the president directly called for nationwide demonstrations, with thousands of indigenous people, farmers, students, and union members participating. While assessed as proceeding peacefully so far, political tensions are escalating.

2) Supply-chain impact

• Agricultural sector: With farmer organizations participating, potential for follow-up protests or agricultural activity disruptions in major export crop production areas including coffee, bananas, and cut flowers
• Coal and oil transportation: Concerns over energy resource export delays due to potential blockages of inland-to-port transportation routes if protests expand
• Bogotá logistics hub: Temporary impact on urban logistics and distribution networks due to protests in the capital center, with potential for expansion if protests continue
• Manufacturing workforce: Risk of production cost increases due to manufacturing operations disruptions and wage increase pressures if union participation expands

3) Watch points

• Results of congressional processing of labor reform bills and whether additional protest calls follow - potential for escalation into large-scale strikes or road blockades
• Trends in protest expansion to major Colombian port cities (Cartagena, Barranquilla) and coal/oil production regions
• Duration of agricultural area protests and actual scale of impact on harvest season agricultural activities