Coffee exports in Ecuador and Colombia face growth and new port costs

Coffee exports from Ecuador and Colombia have seen significant activity, with FedEx reporting a 42% year-over-year increase in coffee volume moved during fiscal year 2026. In Ecuador, coffee and derivatives exports reached US$ 82.7 million in the first half of 2026, marking a 41.4% increase and becoming the fastest-growing traditional non-oil sector.

However, the Colombian coffee sector faces logistical challenges at the port of Buenaventura. A new local decree establishing a public price for circulation has introduced additional costs for goods entering or leaving the terminals. Analdex estimates that this charge of $4,235 per ton could result in an annual overcost of between $86 billion and $91 billion pesos (approximately US$27 million to US$28 million) for importers and exporters. The Federation of Coffee Growers (FNC) noted that Buenaventura handles 60.2% of the country's exported coffee, making the impact on the sector particularly significant.