For the first time so far this century, coffee became Colombia’s leading export product in 2025, surpassing even fuels — an outcome that stands out for the country’s economy and redefines how its role in international trade is perceived.
In a decade in which export diversification has been a constant goal for governments and industry groups, the results achieved last year reflect not only favorable conditions for the aromatic bean, but also decades of work, investment, and adaptation in rural areas.
The phenomenon is the result of a combination of productive, economic, and market factors that, for the first time, allowed Colombian coffee to outperform sectors that have traditionally dominated the trade balance, such as fossil fuels.
This achievement, which many in the sector describe as historic, has its roots in an extraordinary year for the national coffee industry. Production reached levels not seen in decades, with record figures exceeding 14 million bags during the coffee year spanning from late 2024 well into 2025.
That abundant, high-quality harvest made it possible to meet growing international demand at a time when coffee prices in global markets remained high, directly benefiting the value of Colombian exports.
Coffee surpassed fuels in exports in a historic 2025
The year 2025 will go down as an exceptional one for Colombian coffee production. The National Coffee Growers Federation (FNC) and other sector organizations highlighted that productive conditions — including favorable weather across much of the coffee-growing regions and the renewal of aging crops — contributed to an abundant harvest of excellent quality.
These conditions capitalized on momentum built up over previous years through technical assistance programs and strategies focused on increasing productivity and the resilience of coffee plantations.
This higher output, combined with significant growth in exports both in volume and value, cemented coffee as a strategic asset for the Colombian economy.
In the first quarters of 2025, the country recorded notable increases in overseas shipments, with figures exceeding those of the same period in previous years. The combination of larger export volumes and stronger international prices resulted in an unprecedented boost to foreign currency earnings from the sector.
According to official figures from DANE, coffee exports reached US$5.78 billion in 2025, while coal exports stood at US$4.90 billion. In percentage terms, the value of coffee exports was 18.1% higher than that of coal — a relationship not seen in 25 years.
For years, the country’s trade balance has been heavily influenced by revenues derived from oil and its byproducts, as well as coal and other extractive products.
However, according to official data and foreign trade analyses, the group of fuels and extractive industry products experienced less favorable dynamics in 2025, with declines in overseas sales that contrasted with the extraordinary growth in foreign currency earnings generated by coffee. That trend allowed coffee not only to advance but to move above fuels in terms of export value — an unprecedented situation.
The data were highlighted by German Bahamon, CEO of the FNC. “In 2025, coffee exports grew by over 70.6%, reaching 38% of the agricultural sector’s exports. More than 20 trillion pesos flowed into the national economy, consolidating coffee as the country’s most democratic economic activity, with a presence in 23 departments and 611 municipalities,” the coffee sector spokesperson wrote on his X social media account.
Bahamón ended his remarks, illustrated by official DANE data, by underscoring the value of this iconic product of Colombian production and exports. “Coffee does more than generate foreign currency. It energizes regional economies, builds social fabric, and shapes the future,” he concluded.
.@DANE_Colombia
El café volvió a demostrar que es uno de los pilares más sólidos de la economía colombiana y uno de los principales contribuyentes al fortalecimiento de nuestra balanza comercial.En 2025, las exportaciones de café crecieron +70,6%, alcanzando el 38% de las… pic.twitter.com/GJdzHqwyTF
— German Bahamon Jaramillo (@GermanBahamon) February 5, 2026
International demand and favorable prices
The sustained increase in demand for Colombian coffee in international markets also played a key role in this historic result. Traditional consuming countries, such as the United States and members of the European Union, continued to favor coffee of Colombian origin, valued for its quality and variety.
In addition, global market conditions supported grain prices, with quotations remaining above levels considered attractive for exporters, which increased the total value of shipments.
This international appetite for Colombian coffee translated into a multiplier effect within the sector. Producing departments in various regions of the country saw their exports grow significantly, boosting local economies and generating employment in rural areas where coffee cultivation is a central activity.
Business opportunities expanded not only around green coffee but also in segments of industrialized products, such as instant and roasted coffee, which contributed to the overall increase in export revenues.
With this reality on the table, the challenge for 2026 and the years ahead will be to maintain this momentum in a global context that may be volatile.
The Colombian coffee sector will face — like other crops — its adaptation to changing climate conditions, but at the same time will also have to address the need to continue programs to renew coffee plantations and to improve processing and logistics infrastructure, as well as competition from other producing countries that are also seeking to expand their share in international markets.
Alert due to a decline in mining and energy exports
Alongside the strong export year for coffee — and for agriculture in general — the economic sector is sounding the alarm over the downturn in the mining and energy sector, in line with the government’s priorities to promote less polluting activities. This shift has been reflected in a change in trend, both in production and in exports.
According to official data, foreign sales of fuels, oil, and other extractive industry products totaled US$19.19 billion in 2025, representing a drop of approximately 17.9%, compared to 2024. The decline was concentrated in items such as crude oil and thermal coal, affected by lower international prices and structural market conditions.
This contrasts with the agricultural sector, which carries significant social and regional implications: Communities in departments such as La Guajira, Cesar, and Boyaca, where mining and fuels are key sources of employment, are facing lower incomes and economic challenges.
For trade groups such as Fenalcarbon, the combination of low international prices — 20% lower for coal — high operating costs, and regulatory changes has eroded the sector’s competitiveness.
In this context, the trade group questioned the permanent 10% income surtax, the collection of an additional 1% tax on coal sales tied to the declaration of an economic emergency — a measure currently provisionally suspended by the courts — and the increase in the self-withholding rate from 1.6% to 4.5%, which undermines companies’ liquidity.
To all this must be added the public policies that will emerge from the new government that citizens will elect in the middle of the year and its promotion of a specific economic model, as well as the continued diversification of export destinations and the strengthening of the production chain.