Colombia Green Coffee Exports Grew 24% in 2024 on Year, Industrialized Coffee Advanced 6%: Asoexport
Colombia Green Coffee Exports Grew 24% in 2024 on Year, Industrialized Coffee Advanced 6%: Asoexport
Coffee Network (Bogota)- Colombian green coffee exports totaled 11.42 million bags in 2024, which represented an increase of 17%, compared with 9.73 million bags exported in 2023. The exported volume increased in the main markets, except for China, the coffee exporters association Asoexport said.
Meanwhile, exports of industrialized coffee reached 903,300 bags in 2024, which represented an increase of 6%, compared with 854,000 bags exported in 2023. The exported volume increased in most of the main markets, except the USA, Germany and Japan
Coffee continues to be a transcendental product for Colombian exports, representing 7.2% of the country's total exports, 16.1% of non-mining and energy exports and 31% of exports in the agricultural, food and beverage group, the coffee exporters association Asoexport said in a report yesterday.
The 2024 calendar year recorded an export volume of 12.3 million 60kg bags of green coffee, which represents a 16.5% growth in Colombian coffee exports. Likewise, a 23% increase in production was estimated (recording a harvest value close to COP 16.1 billion) and 94% of the reference price of domestic cargo in Colombia so far this year.
The coffee market in 2024 recorded several situations, Asoexport said. Fears about production levels in Brazil and Vietnam and the prospect of the entry into force of the EUDR in January 2025 led to an increase in the volume of trade. Secondly, the recovery of the international price, particularly during the second half of the year, reaching historical nominal prices on the stock exchange; thirdly, an inverted futures market was presented during the second half of the year, making inventory management complex for exporters and clients, financing needs and risk coverage. Fourthly, the increase in global security risks, the improvement in the behavior of logistics times and the lack of availability of containers and space on ships for shipment, affected the grain export processes.
Regarding logistics, during 2024, blockades of national roads persisted, with the main focus on the road that connects Buenaventura (main export port) with the main coffee-growing areas in the interior of the country, and in August the country faced a transporters' strike due to the increase in the price of diesel.
While closing the deficit of the Fuel Price Stabilization Fund (FEPC) is one of the country's fiscal priorities, more adjustments to the price of diesel are expected during the year, so a possible truckers' strike is a situation to monitor in the future.
Another aspect to watch is the announced regulatory changes in the transport sector, the reason for the negotiation with the transporters. Finally, although there is still a lack of containers and space for shipping coffee to the different destination markets, the normalization of international trade patterns (mainly from China to the US) will make it possible to overcome this obstacle.
Regarding sustainability, in December 2024, the postponement of the entry into force of the European Union regulation on deforestation, the EUDR, was announced for one year, so the due diligence process on deforestation and legality will be mandatory as of 1 January 2026. This aspect continues to cause concern in the export sectors.
Exports
The recovery of exports in 2024 occurred in a scenario of high production (at 13.992 million bags, an increase of 23% compared to 2023 due to the dry weather conditions of the El Niño phenomenon, with a value of the harvest that amounted to COP 16.1 billion, coupled with the strong recovery in price.
The nominal price of coffee on the New York Stock Exchange - began January at USD¢/lb 182.8 and closed December at USD¢/lb 322.65, a difference of USD¢ 139.85 - and the domestic reference price increased by 94% in 2024. Additionally, uncertainty about production levels in Brazil and Vietnam and the entry into force of the EUDR boosted global demand for coffee.
Green Coffee Exports
Green coffee exports reached 11.42 million bags in 2024, which represented an increase of 17%, compared with 9.73 million bags exported in 2023. The exported volume increased in the main markets, except for China.
North America is consolidated as the main destination, since it represents 48.5% of exports (increase of 19%), followed by the European Union (EU), which represents 26% (increase of 24%) and the Far East, which amounts to 14.5%. Of the main markets, among those that grew the most in exported volume are Canada (34.8%), Belgium (33%), Spain (45%), Germany and the United Kingdom (17%) and the United States (14%). Also noteworthy is the growth in markets such as Mexico, which increased by 52,000 bags (109%), or India, whose volume increased by 19,000 bags (6,298%).
Likewise, the USA continues to be the main destination with a share of 40%, and of the 10 main destinations, only China showed a negative variation, decreasing by 64,000 bags (-12%).
Industrialized coffee
Exports of industrialized coffee reached 903,300 bags in 2024, which represented an increase of 6%, compared with 854,000 bags exported in 2023. The exported volume increased in most of the main markets, except the USA, Germany and Japan. North America is consolidated as the main destination, representing 57% of exports (3% reduction), followed by the European Union (EU), which represents 13% (24% increase) and the Far East, which amounts to 10% (13% increase). The consolidation of Latin America (29% share) as a destination for processed coffee stands out, particularly South America (14% share of the total), as they reported significant growth in 2024 (11% and 20%, respectively). On the other hand, among the markets with the greatest growth are Jordan (802%), the Netherlands (183%), Spain (107%), Peru (79%), China (56%) and South Korea (50%).
Roasted, Extract, Soluble coffee
In 2024, 903,00 bags of roasted, extract or soluble coffee were exported. This figure of industrialized coffee represents 7% of the total coffee exports.
Of these, 623,000 bags correspond to exports of soluble coffee (69%), 218,000 bags of roasted coffee (24%) and 62,000 bags of coffee extracts (7%).
Meanwhile, 11.42 million bags of green coffee were exported. This figure represents 93% of the total coffee exports. In 2024, exports of Product of Colombia, both green and processed, represented 10% of the total exported. In addition, this category showed a growth of 67%, going from 714,000 bags in 2023 to 1.2 million bags in 2024.
Exports per terminal
99% of the exported volume of coffee during 2024 (12.225 million 60kg bags) was moved through the country's maritime terminals. Despite the blockades recorded, Buenaventura is the most important maritime terminal for international sales of the bean (64%), followed in the top five by two maritime terminals, Cartagena (29%) and Santa Marta (7%); one land terminal, Ipiales (0.5%), and one air terminal, Bogotá's El Dorado airport (0.3%).
Regarding industrialized coffee, Cartagena was the main maritime terminal of departure (66%), followed in the top five by Buenaventura (27%); one land terminal, Ipiales (5.3%); One is air, Bogotá's El Dorado airport (0.6%), and the other is sea, Barranquilla (0.5%).
Along these lines, USD 3.52 billion were moved through the country's sea terminals (COP 14.5 trillion), USD 17.5 million through air terminals (COP 72 billion) and USD 9.5 million through land (COP 39 billion).
However, the export logistics operation was seriously threatened in the last quarter of 2024, due to the lack of availability of 20-foot containers (high demand from China) and space on ships for the shipment of grain. The contingency is expected to be overcome during the first quarter of 2025.
By Diana Delgado
