BOGOTA – Colombia, the world´s number one supplier of mild washed Arabica coffee, maintained its positive coffee production trend in February. With more than 874 thousand 60 kilo coffee bags produced and a 40% increase compared to the same period in 2013, February 2014 became the month with the highest production since February 2008.
In the past twelve months (March 2013 – February 2014), coffee production reached over 11.3 million bags. This implied a 38% increase compared to the 8.1 million 60 kilo bags produced between March 2012 and February 2013.
In addition, during the first five months of the current coffee year (October 2013-February 2014) coffee production reached 5.2 million coffee bags. This entailed a 35% increase compared to the 3.8 million bags produced during the first five months of the previous coffee year.
This positive outcome is the result of the Colombian Coffee Growers Federation´s (FNC) coffee crop renovation initiative. Besides plantingyoung trees that are resistant to coffee leaf rust and to climate variability, crop renovation has increased productivity per hectare.
The average productivity of coffee plantations has increased from 11.1 green coffee bags per productive hectare in 2012 to 14.1 bags by the end of 2013.
“The February figure is the result of ther efforts made during the past few years in terms of productive renovation have increased production and productivity,” said Luis G. Muñoz, CEO of the FNC. “This proves that Colombia is a reliable long-term supplier of high quality coffee.”
Colombian Coffee Exports Increase
In line with the coffee production increase, February 2014 Colombian coffee exports augmented. Total coffee exports reached 976 thousand 60 kilo bags, a 36% increase compared to the same period during the previous year.
During the past twelve months, coffee exports reached 10.1 million 60 kilo bags. This entailed a 35% increase compared to the 7.5 million bags sold between March 2012 and February 2013.
In addition, coffee year to date exports reached 4.9 million 60 kilo bags, meaning a 37% increase compared to the 3.6 million sold in international markets between October 2012 and February 2013.
Source: FNC
