COLOMBIA – Coffee production down 28.5 percent in 1Q

MILAN – According to the National Federation of Coffee Growers, or Fedecafe, coffee production dropped by 28.5 percent in the first quarter of 2010, compared with the previous year.

In the first 3 months of 2009, 2.5 million bags of coffee were produced, compared with 1.8 million in the same time period in 2010.

January production in 2010 fell by 41 percent on year, while February saw a 26% drop and March an 18% drop.

Exports in March 2010 were 33 percent lower than the same month the previous year.
Despite the grim statistics, growers are optimistic that the good behaviour of the blooms, climate and fertilization in late 2009 and early 2010 will provide a good base to improve on.
The federation also saw encouragement in the growth in both domestic and international coffee prices in the third month of 2010.