BOGOTA, Colombia – Colombia, the world’s leading producer of mild washed Arabica coffee, recorded a harvest of 1.1 million 60-kilo bags in February, a 7% increase compared to February 2015’s coffee production.
However, despite the positive growth trend, the country is still under alert due to the adverse impact of El Niño on Colombian coffee growing. Year-to-date production reached over 2.2 million bags, a 5% increase compared to the 2.1 million 60-kilo bags produced between January and February 2015.
During the last 12 months (March 2015-February 2016), the coffee harvest increased 16% by reaching nearly 14.3 million bags. So far this coffee year (October 2015-February 2016), production has increased 18% by reaching nearly 6.4 million bags.
Assessing Impact of El Niño
The Colombian Coffee Growers Federation (FNC) is concluding a comprehensive field study to assess the impact of El Niño. The study is based on a statistically significant sample of 7,000 farms throughout Colombia’s coffee departments. The results of the study will help ensure that the measures adopted to support coffee growers respond to their specific needs.
The FNC has encouraged coffee growers to follow appropriate post-harvesting practices in order to benefit from the recently adopted trade policies. This will mitigate the impact of El Niño on their income while upholding quality and reputation of Colombian coffee in international markets.
Similarly, campaigns to control the coffee berry borer (CBB) are now underway. The fact that the plague spreads more easily during dry seasons makes this a period of particular vulnerability for Colombian coffee growers.
Colombian Coffee Exports Increase 5% in February
Likewise, Colombian coffee exports increased 5% in February by reaching 1.1 million 60-kilo bags. Year-to-date exports were 2.2 million bags, a 5% increase compared to the 2.1 million bags exported between January and February 2015.
During the past twelve months, coffee exports reached 12.8 million bags, a 15% increase compared to the 11.1 million bags exported during the same previous period. Similarly, so far this coffee year (October 2015-February 2016), coffee exports have increased 10% by reaching 5.7 million bags.
