Colombian Coffee Production Fell 12% in August on Weather Delays

Colombia's coffee production fell 12% in August from the same month last year, totaling 1.09 million 60-kilogram bags, the National Federation of Coffee Growers reported on Friday. The decline marks the second consecutive month of lower output, attributed primarily to poor weather conditions that have delayed harvesting.

Production and Export Details

Exports from the world's largest producer of washed arabica coffee also saw a significant drop. The federation's data showed that August coffee exports decreased by 10% year-over-year to 1.05 million bags.

Federation President German Bahamon noted that a variable climate has been a critical factor impacting the crop throughout the year. While August's production was a slight increase from the 1.06 million bags produced in July, the broader trend remains negative.

Year-to-Date and Annual Trends

The latest figures contribute to a persistent downturn in production for the year. Key cumulative data includes:

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• January-August 2026 Production: Down 12% year-over-year to 7.73 million bags.
• Last 12 Months Production (ending Aug. 2026): Down 15% to 12.58 million bags.
• Last 12 Months Exports (ending Aug. 2026): Down 12% to 11.69 million bags.

Weather Impact and Forecasts

In a late-August interview with Reuters, Bahamon projected that full-year 2026 production would likely fall by 8% to 12.5 million bags. He cited the impact of heavy rains earlier in the year combined with the emerging El Niño climate pattern as key reasons for the expected shortfall.

Separately, the federation's coffee research center forecasts a slightly lower annual output of 12.2 million bags for 2026. Meanwhile, domestic coffee consumption in Colombia has remained stable at 2.32 million bags over the past 12 months, with imports over the same period totaling 1.55 million bags.