BOGOTA – Colombia, the world´s leading producer of mild washed Arabica coffee, reached the 1.01 million 60 kilo bags maintaining its positive production trend registered in 2013.
With a 15% increase compared to January 2013´s coffee production, January 2014 became the month with the highest production volume since 2007.
During the past twelve months (February 2013- January 2014,) coffee production reached over 11 million 60 kilo coffee bags. This accounts for a 36% increase compared to the 8.1 million bags produced between February 2012 and January 2013.
Additionally, coffee production reached 4.3 million coffee bags during the first four months of the current coffee year (October 2013-January 2014.) A registered 34% increase compared to the 3.2 million bags produced between October 2012 and January 2013.
This positive outcome has been the result of the coffee crop renovation program developed by the Colombian Coffee Growers Federation (FNC) since 2008.
Not only does this initiative produce younger coffee trees that are resistant to the impact of climate change and to diseases such as the coffee leaf rust fungus, but it has also increased productivity per hectare.
The average productivity of coffee plantations in bearing age has increased from 11.1 green coffee bags per productive hectare in 2012, to 14.1 bags by the end of 2013.
This indicator is expected to rise because the coffee hectares renovated during 2012 will soon begin their productive stage.
Exports
The mounting international demand for high quality coffee was reflected in the increase of Colombian coffee exports. In January 2014, coffee exports rose 30% reaching 967 thousand 60 kilo bags.
Additionally, during the past twelve months coffee exports reached 9.9 million 60 kilo bags, a 34% increase compared to the 7,4 million bags sold between February 2012 and January 2013.
Coffee year to date exports totaled 3.9 million 60 kilo bags, meaning a 37% increase compared to the 2.8 million bags sold in international markets during the same period in 2013.
Source: FNC
