Colombia’s Coffee Imports Break New Historic Record in 2021
Bogota (Coffee Network ) – Colombia imported more than 1.6 million bags of 60-kg in 2021, reaching a new all-time historic record, reflecting lower output last year, and a shortage of low-quality coffee produced nationally, according to an assessment of Coffee Network.
Colombia, the world’s-largest producer of high-quality Arabica beans, imported at least 1.62 million 60-kg bags of coffee in 2021, up from than 1.21 million 60-kg bags in 2020 , according to figures gathered by Coffee Network, which reflects imports from neighboring nations..
Colombia resorted on higher imports from neighboring nations as national coffee production slumped to 12.6 million bags in 2021, down from around 14 million bags per year for the past six previous years. Colombia also imports coffee to supply the local market because of a shortage of low-quality coffee produced nationally.
Colombia exports all its high-quality Arabica beans, but it used to leave coffee affected by diseases such as broca worms or roya fungus for local consumption. However, in 2015, the coffee growers’ federation lifted a ban that had forbidden exporting low-grade beans. As a result, there was no leftovers of low-grade beans for the local industry, promoting the increase of imports.
Brazil was the largest supplier of coffee. Colombia imported 1.163 million bags of coffee from Brazil, up 33.4% from the 871,158 bags in 2020, according to official figures from the Brazilian coffee exporters group Cecafe.
Peru, which was historically the main exporter of coffee to Colombia, was displaced to the second place. Peru exported 367,761 bags of 60-kg in 2021, up 24.4% on year when it shipped 295,430 bags, according to the Peruvian coffee and cocoa chamber.
Honduras topped almost 80,000 bags in 2021, according to information provided by the Honduras coffee institute IHcafe.
Colombia also imported 36,737 bags of 60-kg of Ecuadorean Robusta coffee, twice as much as the 16,580 bags of 60-kg imported from Ecuador in 2020, according to information provided by the coffee body Anecafe.
Based on the Coffee Network assessment, imports were most likely higher as Colombia also imports smaller amounts of beans from Vietman . But imports for sure are most likely are much higher than the initial Coffee Network estimate. Smuggled coffee usually comes from Ecuador, Peru, Vietnam and Brazil.
The coffee growers federation (FNC) declined to provide information about consolidated imports of beans pointing out that such information should be provided by the tax office DIAN. DIAN failed to provide consolidated information.
Imports of coffee also came expensive as local currency experienced a strong depreciation sending the peso above COP4,000 pesos to the dollar at some point last year. The Colombian peso ended at COP3,981.16 last year, compared with COP3,432.50 at the end of 2020.
“This information has become very sensitive for the coffee growers federation and even for the government which is proving why it has become so difficult to obtain official data,” said a coffee expert.
Imports of low-grade Arabica coffee and Robusta beans have been growing by leaps and bounds.
In 2018, Colombia imported 998,460 bags of 60-kg, twice as much as the 440,000 60-kg recorded in 2017, according of the country’s tax office (DIAN).
The previous record was recorded in 2012 when Colombia brought in 1.066 million 60-kg bags amid a slump of output.
After reaching record imports in 2012, the volume of coffee purchases from overseas fell to 606,500 60-kg bags in 2013, 351,000 60-kg bags in 2014 and 218,000 60-kg bags in 2015, according to figures provided by FNC.
Colombia also imports coffee to provide beans to the freeze-dried coffee plant of Buencafé Liofilizado.
Imports are also rising amid increased local coffee consumption. Coffee consumption is expected to increase to 2.8/kg per capita in 2021, up from previous 2.3kg/ per capita, according to the coffee growers federation
By Diana Delgado
