Colombia's agricultural exports face 80% risk from early El Niño

The National Association of Foreign Trade (Analdex) warns that an early onset of the El Niño phenomenon could jeopardise roughly 80 % of Colombia's non‑mineral agricultural exports in the second half of 2026. Eight of the ten leading export products—coffee, banana, flowers, Hass avocado, sugar, palm oil and aquaculture—are especially vulnerable to higher temperatures and reduced rainfall.

Analdex cautions that the climate shift may lower yields, degrade product quality, shrink volumes and raise production costs as water competition intensifies with hydro‑electric generation. Losses could affect thousands of producers and curb export revenues. The group urges the national government to accelerate mitigation measures such as reinforced irrigation systems, agricultural insurance schemes and coordinated strategies to secure water supplies, noting the phenomenon may persist into early 2027.