Colombia coffee output drops 12% in August on weather delays

Colombia's coffee production fell 12% in August compared to the same time last year, according to the National Coffee Federation. The federation reported a total output of 1.09 million 60-kilogram bags in August, marking the second consecutive month of reduced output due to adverse weather conditions. Coffee exports also decreased by 10% to 1.05 million bags in August, as stated by German Bahamon, head of the federation.

He attributed the decline to climate variability throughout the year. While August saw a modest increase in production from July's 1.06 million bags, the cumulative impact from January to August saw a 12% year-on-year decline in production to 7.73 million bags. Over the full year ending in August, the country's coffee harvest dropped by 15% to 12.58 million bags, with exports falling 12% to 11.69 million bags.

The Colombian coffee research center predicts a 2026 harvest of 12.2 million bags. Bahamon also cautioned that this year's harvest is expected to decline by 8% to 12.5 million bags due to heavy rainfall earlier in the year and the emergence of an El Niño weather pattern. In the 12 months leading up to August, Colombia imported 1.55 million bags, while domestic consumption remained steady at 2.32 million bags. This report was AI-generated and subsequently reviewed by an editor.