Veracruz coffee growers decry unfair competition from imported beans

Coffee producers in Veracruz, Mexico, say that imports from Brazil, Vietnam and Guatemala are depressing prices and undermining local specialty coffee. Regional Coffee Council president Cirio Ruiz González warned that transnational firms now control about 60 % of the national market and that imported beans often lack adequate quality checks, harming both growers and consumers.

Entrepreneur César Nava of Alma de Toro noted that Guatemalan coffee sells for as little as 250 MXN per kilogram, while Veracruz specialty beans can reach 460 MXN per kilogram because of higher production standards. He called for reference prices, greater promotion of freshly roasted Mexican beans and measures to protect the domestic market from low‑price imports.

The council plans to hold a meeting of the Veracruz Coffee Chain Association to discuss leadership changes and potential policy actions aimed at supporting small producers and preserving the shade‑grown Arabica heritage of the region.