BOGOTA – As a result of the Colombian Coffee Growers Federation’s (FNC) ambitious crop renovation and coffee leaf rust control programs, Colombia, the world’s leading producer of mild washed Arabica coffee, has registered an increase in production by the end of September.
Coffee production in the 2013-2014 coffee harvest year (October 2013-September 2014) reached 12.1 million 60 kilo bags of green coffee. This means a 22% increase compared to the 9.9 million bags produced during the same period of the previous year.
Similarly, coffee production in September 2014 reached a total of 912,000 60 kilo bags, reflecting a 6% increase compared to the 860,000 60 kilo bags produced in September 2013.
Year to date (January-September) coffee production reached a total of 8.8 million 60 kilo bags, meaning a 16% increase compared to the 7.6 million bags produced between January and September 2013.
Production increase and higher market prices are generating higher income for Colombian coffee growing families. Between January and September 2014, the coffee harvest value, including government support, reached US$1.8 billion dollars at current exchange rates. This translated into a 19% increase compared to the harvest value of the same period of the previous year in domestic currency.
COFFEE EXPORTS AT 10.8 MILLION BAGS – Colombian coffee exports reached 10.8 million 60 kilo bags during the 2013-2014 coffee harvest year, meaning a 23% increase compared to the 8.8 million 60 kilo bags exported during the 2012-2013 coffee harvest year.
In September 2014, coffee exports increased 23% by reaching a total of 830,000 60 kilo bags. Similarly, year to date exports (January-September 2014) reached 7.9 million 60 kilo bags, meaning a 17% increase compared to the 6.7 million bags exported between January and September 2013.
