Colombia coffee exports halted after earthquake: Asoexport

Colombia’s coffee exports have been temporarily suspended following a 6.1-magnitude earthquake that struck near key growing regions in the country’s coffee belt, industry group Asoexport said on Tuesday.

The quake, which struck in the early hours, disrupted logistics and damaged infrastructure in areas critical to coffee production and transportation. Asoexport, the national coffee growers’ association, confirmed the halt in shipments while assessing the extent of the impact on supply chains.

Colombia is the world’s third-largest coffee producer, trailing only Brazil and Vietnam, and a key supplier of high-quality Arabica beans to global markets. The country’s coffee sector has faced recurring challenges in recent years, including climate volatility and logistical bottlenecks, which have periodically strained export volumes.

While the duration of the export halt remains uncertain, Asoexport indicated that preliminary assessments were underway to determine the full scope of the disruption. The group added that it was coordinating with local authorities and logistics providers to restore normal operations as quickly as possible.

The earthquake’s epicenter was located near the departments of Huila and Cauca, regions that account for a significant share of Colombia’s coffee output. Market analysts noted that any prolonged disruption could tighten global coffee supplies, particularly for specialty-grade beans where Colombia holds a dominant position.

Coffee futures markets reacted modestly, with benchmark contracts on ICE Futures U.S. showing a slight uptick in early trading. However, analysts cautioned that the impact on prices would depend on the duration of the halt and the extent of infrastructure damage.

Asoexport did not provide an estimate for the volume of coffee affected by the disruption but emphasized that the priority was ensuring the safety of workers and the integrity of the supply chain.