February's Rainfall Saw Triple The Seasonal Average In Colombia's Coffee-Growing Regions – CoffeeTalk

In February, rainfall in Colombia’s primary coffee-growing regions reached approximately double the historical averages, with some weather stations recording precipitation over three times the normal seasonal levels, as reported by Cenicafé. For instance, the Manuel Mallarino coffee station in Valle del Cauca noted 337mm of rain, a drastic increase from the typical 102mm for the month. Similarly, the El Tambo station in the department of Cauca reported 383mm, exceeding the historical average of 175mm, while the La Victoria station in Magdalena experienced rainfall of 201mm, compared to only 13mm in preceding years.

Traditionally, January and February are dry months for Colombia’s coffee regions; however, the unusual spike in rainfall has been attributed to a cold front moving from the Northern Hemisphere toward the Caribbean, prompting alerts for potential flooding, flash floods, landslides, and storm surges by the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD). Additionally, the Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies (Ideam) noted that these conditions are atypical and have already resulted in emergencies in several northern and northwestern regions of the country.

Furthermore, significant rainfall has delayed the crucial flowering period essential for coffee cultivation, raising concerns about decreased output during Colombia’s main harvesting months, which fall between October and December. Adequate sunshine and a period of water deficit are necessary about eight months before harvest to ensure optimal yields.

Colombia, being the world’s third-largest coffee producer, saw a notable decline in output, with February production recorded at 869,000 bags, a 36% decrease from 1.361 million bags in February of the previous year. This was also slightly lower than the 893,000 bags produced in January. Over the past year, Colombia’s total coffee production reached 12.722 million bags, marking a 14% decline from the 14.795 million bags produced in the same timeframe the previous year. Germán Bahamón, the general manager of the National Federation of Coffee Growers, highlighted that February’s production figures signify a substantial adjustment in supply, leading to growing concerns within Colombia’s coffee sector regarding the implications for production levels and current market prices.

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