Colombia suspends coffee exports after magnitude 7.4 earthquake
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Colombia suspends coffee exports after a magnitude 7.4 earthquake on August 10 damaged key infrastructure. The quake blocked highways to the main Pacific port of Buenaventura, halting coffee shipments, while other ports remain open but face logistical hurdles due to truck shortages.
Casualty and Damage
The magnitude 7.4 earthquake, the strongest to hit Colombia in decades, struck on August 10, killing at least 250 people, according to Reuters. The Associated Press reported 2,595 injured and at least 195 missing, while non-governmental organizations estimate the number of missing could reach 4,000. The quake affected the cities of Cali, Pereira, Quibdó, and Manizales in the country’s coffee-growing region. Significant structural damage to coffee processing facilities has not been reported, but power outages and communication disruptions have hampered operations, said Gustavo Gómez, president of the Asoexport exporters' association.
Export Halt
Colombia’s coffee exports came to a near-total stop as the earthquake blocked the main highway to the Pacific port city of Buenaventura, through which most southern harvest exports typically pass. Gustavo Gómez of Asoexport told Bloomberg that coffee operations are on pause, with only sporadic shipments possible, and no timeline for the road’s full reopening. While other ports like Cartagena and Santa Marta reported no major disruptions, redirecting coffee northward has been hindered by an acute shortage of trucks, Bloomberg noted. Buenaventura’s port has partially suspended coffee reception.
Market Implications
Colombia exports about 1 million 60-kilogram bags of coffee per month, meaning each day of halted operations delays a significant volume, Bloomberg reported. With the harvest currently underway in southern growing regions, a prolonged disruption could cause backlogs at ports once roads reopen, straining the supply chain further. The halt has been flagged in global commodity market reports, though coffee futures remain stable for now, according to Forbes Kazakhstan’s commodity review.
What's Next
Colombian authorities are working to restore road access, but no estimate has been given for when shipments through Buenaventura might resume. Even after road and port operations recover, accumulated volumes could overwhelm logistics, and it remains unclear how soon a normal export pace will be achieved.
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Colombia suspends coffee exports after magnitude 7.4 earthquake
