Colombia\’s Coffee Output Rose 14% In 2010 To 8.9 Million Bags

Coffee production from Colombia, the world\’s top producer of washed arabica beans, was 8.9 million 60-kilogram bags in 2010, up 14% from the previous year, the country\’s National Federation of Coffee Growers, Fedecafe, said Monday.

Colombian coffee exports, meanwhile, were down slightly to 7.82 million bags from 7.89 million bags in 2009.

In December, Colombia\’s coffee production surged 42% despite heavy rains that month which destroyed crops, roads and homes. Coffee output for the month totaled 1.164 million bags. According to Fedecafe, the increase was due in part to the lack of rain during the first three months of theyear, which allowed coffee trees to flower in an ideal way.

Consecutive low harvests out of Colombia have helped drive up prices on the InterContinental Exchange in New York. However, Colombia expects to recover its production this cycle, despite unusually frequent rainfall and humidity-induced fungus diseases.