--- title: "Colombian Coffee Under Threat: Earthquake Halts Exports and Destroys Logistics" description: "🇨🇴 **Colombia Halts Coffee Exports Due to Earthquake** A powerful 7.4 magnitude quake destroyed roads leading to the main port of Buenaventura. Exports are paralyzed during the peak harvest season. 📉 📉 **Consequences:** • 254 fatalities, schools and hospitals destroyed. • Logistics in coffee regions (Cauca, Nariño) cut off. • Alternative Caribbean ports are overloaded and inaccessible due to lack of transport. Colombia is the world's 3rd largest coffee producer. Supply delays will inevitably impact global prices. ☕🚫" date: 2026-08-12T14:04:00.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/colombian-coffee-under-threat-earthquake-halts-exports-and-destroys-logistics tags: [colombia, coffee-export, earthquake, logistics-crisis, global-markets] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Colombian Coffee Under Threat: Earthquake Halts Exports and Destroys Logistics ![Worker carrying a sack labeled 'Excelso Coffee of Colombia' amidst huge warehouse stocks, illustrating export halt due to earthquake](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/12/kolumbiya-ostanovila-eksport-kofe-iz-za-zemletryaseniya/kolumbiya-ostanovila-eksport-kofe-iz-za-zemletryaseniya-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - Coffee exports from Colombia have been completely halted due to the destruction of roads leading to the port of Buenaventura. - The 7.4 magnitude earthquake claimed 254 lives and destroyed infrastructure in coffee-growing regions. - Alternative ports on the Caribbean coast cannot compensate for the losses due to a lack of transport. - The crisis threatens global supplies, as Colombia accounts for 7% of the world's coffee volume. A unprecedented crisis has struck the coffee industry in Colombia. A powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake that occurred on Monday, August 10, 2026, not only claimed hundreds of lives but also effectively paralyzed coffee exports — one of the country's key commodities. Buenaventura, the main Pacific port through which the lion's share of shipments traditionally passes, has been cut off from inland regions due to destroyed roads and debris. ### Logistical Collapse and Port Isolation The situation is exacerbated by the fact that major coffee-growing regions, such as Cauca, Nariño, and Valle del Cauca, are currently in the active harvest phase. Historically, these departments depend on the logistical artery leading to Buenaventura. Gustavo Gomez, head of the Coffee Exporters Association (Asoexport), confirmed that coffee operations have been completely suspended. "There is currently no official information on when the roads will be fully open," he stated, noting that even individual shipments are impossible at this time. ### Human Factor and Production Disruptions In addition to the destroyed infrastructure, the industry is facing serious staffing issues. Many processing plants and logistics centers are located near the earthquake's epicenter. While there have been no reports of critical damage to the production facilities themselves, operations are hampered by power outages, communication disruptions, and the personal tragedies of workers who have lost their homes. This creates a labor shortage at the most critical moment of the harvest. ### Global Consequences for the World Market Colombia is the world's third-largest coffee producer and the second-largest supplier of high-quality varieties. In 2025, the country produced 13.4 million bags of coffee, exporting about 1 million bags monthly. Any logistical stoppage leads to inventory accumulation, which will inevitably cause shipping queues and delivery delays worldwide even after traffic resumes. This could lead to a rise in prices for premium coffee on international exchanges. ### Contradictory Data There is a discrepancy in assessments regarding the scale of alternative options. On one hand, official sources indicate that ports on the Caribbean coast (Cartagena and Santa Marta) are operating without disruption. On the other hand, experts note that rapidly redirecting logistical flows eastward is technically impossible due to an acute shortage of freight transport and vast distances. Thus, despite the formal operability of alternative ports, the actual volume of exports through them in the coming weeks will be negligible. ## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification - [Earthquake in Colombia Halts Coffee Exports: What is happening with supplies](https://minfin.com.ua/2026/08/12/179546158/) - Подтверждает остановку экспорта, статус порта Буэнавентура и цитаты Густаво Гомеса. - [Coffee exports from Colombia suspended after powerful earthquake](https://korrespondent.net/business/4902261-eksport-kofe-yz-kolumbyy-pryostanovlen-posle-moschnoho-zemletriasenyia) - Подтверждает статистику погибших (254) и данные о производстве кофе (13,4 млн мешков). - [Colombia suspends coffee exports due to earthquake](https://br.az/inworld/118672/kolumbiya-priostanovila-eksport-kofe-iz-za-zemletryaseniya/) - Подтверждает информацию о нехватке транспорта для альтернативных портов. ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: Why have coffee exports been halted? **A:** The earthquake destroyed the roads leading to the main port of Buenaventura, through which the main flow of shipments passes. ### Q: Can other ports be used? **A:** Ports on the Caribbean coast are operational, but redirecting cargo there is impossible due to a lack of freight transport. ### Q: How much coffee does Colombia produce? **A:** In 2025, the country produced 13.4 million bags, exporting about 1 million bags monthly.