BOGOTA – During the past twelve months, Colombia, the world’s number one supplier of mild Arabica coffee, reached a total production of 9,6 million 60 kilo coffee bags. This entailed a 26% increase compared to the 7,6 million 60 kilo bags produced in the period between September 2011 and August 2012.
During the first eight months of 2013, the country’s coffee harvest reached 6,7 million 60 kilo coffee bags, a 38% increase compared to a production of 4,9 million in the same period the previous year. Additionally, in August 2013 coffee production reached over 770 thousand 60 kilo bags.
This quantity had not been registered in the month of August since 2007.
The substantial coffee production increase is a result of favorable weather conditions and of the success of the FNC’s plant renovation initiatives. Colombian coffee production will probably surpass the 10 million 60 kilo coffee bags target by the end of 2013.
As of this month, a large portion of the second semester harvests of the central and northern coffee producing regions, southern Huila, and Antioquia is starting to be collected.
Additionally, flowerings for 2014’s first semester’s harvest have been reported in the country’s southern coffee growing departments. This has resulted in rising optimism towards next year’s harvest.
According to Luis G. Muñoz, CEO of the FNC, “Colombia´s progress in coffee plant renovation, productivity, and rust resistance has not only become a case study for international analysts, but will most definitely be a good reference in the upcoming discussions concerning our country´s new agrarian policy.”
Exports
While Colombian coffee exports increase, coffee leaf rust is having a deleterious effect on the harvests and international sales of Central American countries. Recent reports reflect that August 2013’s coffee exports decreased 10,6% in Guatemala, 62% in Honduras, and 21,3% in Costa Rica.
On the contrary, in August 2013 Colombian coffee exports increased 58% reaching 920 thousand 60 kilo bags compared to the 583 thousand bags sold in August 2012.
Similarly, in the past twelve months Colombia’s coffee exports reached 8,7 million 60 kilo coffee bags, meaning a 20% increase compared to the 7,2 million bags exported in the period between September 2011 and August 2012.
Year to date Colombian coffee exports surpassed 6,1 million 60 kilo bags, reflecting a 34% increase compared to the nearly 4,5 million 60 kilo coffee bags exported between January and August 2012.
Source: Colombian Coffee Growers Federation
