According to the National Administrative Department of Statistics (DANE), February exports totaled $US4.83 billion, with fuel and commodities the clear leader with a 30% jump.

Manufactured product exports rose 11.4%.

DANE also confirmed exports jumped nearly 41% for the 12 months ending February.

The primary destination was the US, which received 37.6% of overall exports from the Andean nation.

Colombia inked a free trade agreement with the US and it was expected to become effective later this year.

Late last month, the agency said Colombia GDP for 2011 rose 5.9% versus the prior year.

Driving that jump was mine and quarry exploitation.

The country’s economic growth in 2011 is an improvement of 1.9% over the GDP increase of 4% from 2009 to 2010.