On August 10, 2026, a 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia, causing severe disruptions in mobility, communications, and infrastructure. In response, the National Government declared a national disaster, and the Colombian Tax and Customs Authority (DIAN) issued a decree temporarily suspending customs terms in heavily affected jurisdictions.
For supply chain managers, financial directors, and foreign investors operating in Colombia, understanding the exact scope of this decree is crucial to avoid extraordinary storage costs, penalties, and operational bottlenecks. What exactly is frozen, what continues to run, and how should your business adapt?
What Does the Suspension of Customs Terms Mean?
A suspension of terms is an exceptional legal mechanism where the customs authority freezes the statutory deadlines required to fulfill customs obligations. This measure ensures that users do not incur infractions or merchandise seizures due to circumstances of force majeure beyond their control.
The current measure is geographically specific. It exclusively applies to the jurisdictions of the Tax and Customs Directorates of Manizales, Pereira, Armenia, Buenaventura, Quibdó, and the Customs Directorate of Cali. The suspension period spans from August 10, 2026, to September 10, 2026 (inclusive).
Frozen vs. Active Customs Procedures Not all administrative actions stop during this emergency period. Differentiating between suspended operations and those that remain active is vital for strategic planning:
Suspended Operations (Frozen Deadlines):
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Entry of goods into the National Customs Territory (TAN).
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Permitted stay times at arrival locations and deposits.
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Presentation and execution of customs declarations (including temporary imports).
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Authorization, execution, and finalization of customs transit.
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Operations to and from Free Trade Zones in affected areas.
Active Procedures (Continue as Normal):
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Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) evaluations and resolutions.
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Approval and review of global guarantees.
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Issuance of tariff classification and functional unit resolutions.
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Qualification procedures for authorized exporters.
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Provisional expansions of ports, docks, and deposits.
Financial Impact: The Consolidated Payment Relief For Authorized Economic Operators (AEOs) and users with simplified customs procedures whose tax domicile is in the affected jurisdictions, the decree provides immediate cash flow relief.
If the earthquake prevented your company from fulfilling the consolidated payment in August (corresponding to July 2026 operations), the deadline is officially extended. Both the July and August 2026 consolidated import payments can now be made without penalty or default interest until September 10, 2026.
Common Mistakes to Avoid During the Contingency
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Confusing public customs suspension with private storage waivers: The DIAN freezes legal customs deadlines, but private ports, shipping lines, and bonded warehouses may continue charging demurrage and storage. You must proactively negotiate waivers using the disaster decree as leverage.
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Assuming nationwide coverage: The decree is regional. If your cargo is entering through the Caribbean coast (e.g., Cartagena, Barranquilla, Santa Marta), standard legal deadlines still apply.
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Halting document management: Stopping the procurement of origin certificates, transport documents, or sanitary permits will create massive operational bottlenecks once terms automatically resume on September 11, 2026.
Expert Recommendations for Foreign Investors & Local Importers
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Audit your cargo’s jurisdiction immediately: Verify if your entry port or tax domicile falls under the protected DIAN sectional directorates.
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Leverage the force majeure clause: Formally notify your 4PL providers, shipping lines, and insurers about the national disaster decree to negotiate extensions on free days.
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Advance your back-office procedures: Use this window to process tariff classifications and guarantee renewals, which the DIAN is still actively processing.
The suspension of customs terms following the Colombia earthquake is a vital legal shield for businesses. However, its true value lies not in pausing operations, but in utilizing the extended timeframe to strategically align your supply chain—coordinating with customs agencies, carriers, and warehouses to ensure a smooth reactivation on September 11, 2026, without incurring hidden storage costs.
urrent contingency in Buenaventura or Cali? Do you need clarity on your consolidated payment deadlines? At Siacomex, our B2B customs experts design contingency plans to mitigate risks and avoid logistical overruns in Colombia. Contact us today for a specialized customs diagnostic session.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the earthquake suspension apply to imports entering through Cartagena or Barranquilla? No. The DIAN decree strictly limits the suspension to the jurisdictions of Manizales, Pereira, Armenia, Buenaventura, Quibdó, and Cali. Operations in the Caribbean coast maintain their standard legal deadlines.
How long are the customs terms frozen in Colombia? The legal customs deadlines in the affected regions are suspended from August 10, 2026, through September 10, 2026, inclusive. All terms will automatically resume on September 11, 2026.
What happens if I missed the consolidated payment due to the emergency? If your tax domicile is registered in one of the affected DIAN jurisdictions, you can make the consolidated payments for both July and August 2026 operations up until September 10, 2026, without facing late fees or penalties.
