Colombia's coffee production dropped 10% in October due to persistent rains that disrupted flowering in areas like Huila. Experts link the decline to insufficient water stress needed for optimal yields. Overall, annual production remains on an upward trend.
The National Federation of Coffee Growers reported a 10% drop in coffee production during October, mainly due to adverse weather conditions. Persistent rains prevented proper flowering in various coffee-growing areas, including Huila department, Colombia's top producer. This reduced harvest volumes, impacting both vegetative growth and plant productivity.
Garzoneño coffee farmer Ruber Bustos explained the effects: “Las lluvias no permiten que botonee el café. Para que haya buena florescencia tiene que haber estrés hídrico o veranito, entonces, por el exceso de lluvia que hubo hasta poco más de mitad de año, el café no tuvo estrés hídrico y no floreció ni botoneó. Ese fue el problema que tuvo la cosecha de este año”. In Huila, Bustos noted that the October harvest was low, though yields from June to August were good. He observed reductions everywhere, with federation purchases bolstered by stocks from prior months.
Federation general manager Germán Bahamón had warned earlier: “Debemos advertir que, debido a las inclementes lluvias, la cosecha del segundo semestre, cuando termine nuestro año cafetero, tendrá una afectación y el pronóstico es que tendrá una afectación de alrededor de un millón de sacos en el segundo semestre”.
Despite the monthly decline, the yearly outlook is positive. From January to October, production rose 7% to over 10.4 million sacks. Over the last 12 months (November 2024-October 2025), it increased 14% to 14.7 million sacks. Exports remained stable in October but grew 11% in the same period to 13.3 million sacks. Inventories ended at 1,154,000 sacks, up 159,000 from September.
The coffee year (October 2024-September 2025) closed with 14.8 million sacks, 17% higher than the previous cycle and the best figure in 33 years.