Coffee production and exports in Colombia recorded a sharp decline in February, marking a significant setback for one of the country’s main export products. Figures released by the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia show a drop of more than 30% in both the harvest and shipments abroad compared with the same month last year.
The downturn is mainly explained by adverse weather conditions that have affected crop development in several coffee-growing regions. Persistent rains disrupted the flowering and ripening cycles of the beans, reducing the volume available for harvest and, consequently, the coffee destined for international markets.
This situation comes after several years of record production and a growing export market with diversified destinations for the most iconic product of Colombian exports.
Colombia’s coffee production and exports fell by more than 30% in February
According to data from the coffee growers’ association, coffee production in Colombia fell 36% in February compared with the same month in 2025. In total, the country produced about 760,000 60-kilogram bags, well below the more than 1.1 million bags recorded a year earlier.
The drop reflects the cumulative impact of several months of unfavorable weather conditions in the main producing areas. Prolonged rains have affected key crop processes, especially flowering and fruit filling, two decisive stages for the final quantity of beans that reach harvest.
In coffee-growing regions, producers have had to cope with an agricultural calendar altered by climate variability. In some cases, the rains have delayed the ripening of coffee, while in others they have caused crop losses, reducing the volume ultimately harvested.
The result is a more limited supply in the short term. Although Colombian coffee farming is accustomed to variable production cycles, a drop of this magnitude in a single month highlights the sector’s vulnerability to climate phenomena.
The fall in production had an immediate impact on foreign trade. In February, exports of Colombian coffee decreased 32% compared with the same month of the previous year, with shipments totaling around 870,000 bags.
The reduction confirms the close relationship between the domestic harvest and the country’s export capacity. When the available volume of coffee declines, shipments abroad adjust quickly, since a large share of production is destined for international markets.
Colombia is one of the world’s main exporters of washed Arabica coffee, and its overseas sales mainly supply markets such as the United States and Europe. The quality of Colombian beans has allowed the country to maintain a prominent position in the global coffee trade.
However, episodes of declining production can create tensions in the supply chain. International buyers depend on stable shipments, and when supply decreases, they may be forced to seek temporary alternatives in other producing countries.
A difficult start to the year
February’s figures add to a weak start to the year for the coffee sector. In January, production had also shown a considerable drop compared with the same period the previous year, confirming that the early 2026 harvest has been marked by difficulties.
Sector experts attribute much of this performance to the excess rainfall recorded in several coffee-growing areas since the end of 2025. Although coffee requires regular precipitation, prolonged periods of rain can affect crop development and disrupt the pace of production.
The impact is not limited to the amount of coffee harvested. Adverse weather conditions can also complicate the collection and drying of the beans, processes that are essential to guarantee the quality of the final product.
For coffee growers, these factors translate into lower sales volumes and potentially reduced income, especially in regions where the local economy depends heavily on the crop.
Febrero confirma un importante ajuste en la oferta; el sector cafetero colombiano expresa preocupación por la afectación de la producción y los precios actuales.
La producción nacional de café en febrero alcanzó 869 mil sacos de 60 kg, con una caída -36% frente al mismo mes del…
— German Bahamon Jaramillo (@GermanBahamon) March 5, 2026
A key sector for the rural economy
Coffee farming remains one of the country’s most important agricultural activities. About 540,000 families depend directly on this crop, which is grown in dozens of municipalities in the Andean regions.
Beyond its social weight, coffee is one of Colombia’s main agricultural export products and a relevant source of foreign exchange for the national economy. Fluctuations in production, therefore, have effects that go beyond the sector itself.
Despite the decline recorded in February, some analysts believe that relatively high international coffee prices could help partially offset the impact of lower volumes. In recent years, global supply has been subject to strong climate-driven volatility that has pushed prices higher.
For now, the performance in the coming months will be decisive in assessing whether the decline at the beginning of the year persists or whether production manages to recover as the harvests progress in the country’s different coffee-growing regions.
Meanwhile, the sector is closely watching the evolution of the weather, aware that it largely determines the performance of one of the most emblematic crops of the Colombian economy.