BOGOTA, Colombia – Colombian coffee production has sustained a steady growth trend throughout 2016. However, El Niño phenomenon has had a negative impact on coffee quality by increasing the percentage of lower quality beans and coffee berry borer, leading to a decrease in Excelso coffee exports.
While coffee production reached a total of 1.1 million 60 kilo bags in May 2016, Excelso coffee exports had a setback of 8%. Between January and May 2016, coffee production increased 8% by registering a total of 5.4 million bags.
Similarly, during the past twelve months (June 2015-May 2016), coffee production reached 14.6 million 60 kilo bags. This represented a 16% increase compared to the 12.6 million bags registered between June 2014 and May 2015.
Café de Colombia Exports Drop 8%
The increase in the percentage of lower quality beans caused by El Niño led to an 8% decrease in Excelso Colombian coffee exports during May 2016. The 920 thousand 60 kilo bags exported during May 2016 contrast sharply to the 1.005.000 bags exported in May 2015.
Year to date exports registered nearly 5.2 million 60 kilo bags. This represented a 6% increase compared to the nearly 4.9 million bags sold in the international market between January and May 2015. Similarly, during the past twelve months (June 2015-May 2016), Colombian coffee exports increased 15% by registering over 13 million bags.
