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Tariff Arbitrage Spurs Surge in Coffee Imports to Colombia, Led by Brazil and Vietnam

By: Diana Delgado, Contractor

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Tariff Arbitrage Spurs Surge in Coffee Imports to Colombia, Led by Brazil and Vietnam

Bogota (Coffee Network) -Colombia has been importing increased amounts of coffee since May as the start-up of tariffs to enter the US has prompted importing Brazilian coffee, which then gets reexported from Colombia to take advantage of lower tariffs. Although Brazil led imports in January-July, coffee entries from Vietnam skyrocketed, according to figures from the ministry of commerce.

Colombia imported 146,000 bags in August, up 181% from the 52,000 bags in the same month last year. In July, it imported 104,000 bags of 60-kg, an increase of 85% compared to the same month in 2024. Imports for May, which were 89,300 60kg bags, 173% higher than what was seen in 2024. This trend has been observed since May as imports in April were 32,900 bags, down 62.7% on the year, according to economic reports from the coffee growers federation.

But figures obtained from the ministry of commerce showed that Colombia imported 29,924 tonnes of coffee in January-July, up 5.5% on the year. Translated into bags of 60-kg, it means Colombia brought in 498,733 bags of 60-kg in January-July.  That compares with the 21,358 tonnes of coffee in January-June,  according to figures from the Ministry of Commerce, obtained by Coffee Network. Coffee imports were valued at $175.2 million CIF, up 120.4% on the year in January-July.

Brazil contributed with 18,312 tonnes during the first seven months this year, slightly lower than the 19,657 tonnes in the same period last year.

Vietnam shipped 3,826 tonnes in January-July, skyrocketing from the 110 tonnes imported in the same period last year, which proves that Vietnam coffee is also entering Colombia to take advantage of lower tariffs to enter the US.

Ecuador shipped 537 tonnes, up from 129.2 tonnes in January-July. While imports from Mexico accounted for 271.6 tonnes, up from 48 in the same period last year.

Coffee imports from Peru declined to 6,102 tonnes, down from 8,285 tonnes in the same period last year.

The sharp rise in imports can be explained by the so-called “tariff arbitrage,” which prompted market participants to importing large amounts of coffee from Brazil to re-export to the US.  This happens as the US slapped tariffs of 50% to Brazil coffee, compared with the 10% that currently pays Colombian coffee.

“If you buy coffee at $4... Brazil will pay $2 in tariffs, Colombia $0.40, you have $1.60 to import and re-export coffee from Colombia,” explained a trader. Colombia did incur in tariffs arbitrage between 2021 and 2023, added the trader.

Colombian coffee enters the US with 10% tariff, while Brazilian coffee with a 50% tariff. Vietnam enters the US with 20% tariff. Central American countries and Peru also enjoy a 10% tariff, Asoexport said.

Since August 6,  the US slapped a 50% tariffs on Brazilian coffee, prompting the world’s largest coffee producer, which is expected to significantly raise coffee prices in the U.S. and negatively impact Brazilian producers. Brazil is exploring legal challenges to the tariffs and focusing on other markets, such as China, which has welcomed the opportunity to increase its imports of Brazilian coffee. 

As the trade account balance between Colombia and the US is in favor to the US, the world’s largest economy decided to slap only a 10% tariff on Colombian goods, including coffee.

As a result, coffee exporters and market participants have found a way to avoid paying a huge amount of coffee by importing Brazilian coffee to then reexport from Colombia to only pay a 10% tariff.

Colombia to become main source of coffee for the US

The tariffs on goods from all over the world to the US has opened up an important space for Colombian coffee, boosting its exports, mainly to the United States, the country’s coffee exporters association Asoexport.

Between January and August 2025, sales of coffee to the US increased 14.7% compared to the same period last year, reaching 3.3 million 60-kg bags, according to figures from the tax office Dian, based on analysis by Analdex and Asoexport,

Meanwhile, in the first eight months of 2025, Brazil's coffee exports to the US fell 20.7% compared to the same period in 2024, according to data from Cecafé (the Brazilian Coffee Exporters Council). This fell from 5 million 60kg bags to 4 million, confirming the impact of tariff measures and political tensions between Brazil and the United States on its coffee trade dynamics.

Global coffee export flows are changing due to tariffs, Analdex, the country’s exporters association said. In this sense, Colombia could become the main supplier of coffee to the United States.

“This is very good news for the country, as increased interest in Colombian coffee worldwide could bring more income to coffee-growing families in Colombia," explained Gustavo Gómez, president of Asoexport. Along these same lines, Javier Díaz Molina, president of Analdex, stated that "good coffee production, along with international prices, have made coffee the standard-bearer for the country's exports. We must take advantage of this tariff window that is opening in our favor to consolidate our position in the United States."

By DIana Delgado

  • Coffee

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