Some 800,000 bags of Colombian coffee for export, blocked in May due to protests

Anti-government protests in Colombia blocked the export of around 800,000 60-kilo bags of coffee in May, according to projections by the National Federation of Coffee Growers. Colombia is the world's second largest producer of arabica, and its high-quality smooth beans are sought after by companies like Starbucks and Nespresso, as well as by smaller roasters in the United States, the world's largest consumer. The National Federation of Coffee Growers reported that only about a third of the vehicles that transport coffee from the producing regions to the Atlantic ports were able to make the trips last month. "It has been possible to reach the port along the Atlantic coast with approximately 32% of normal, an average of 25 vehicles a day compared to 80 vehicles in a normal period," he reported. The agency said that the route to the port of Buenaventura, in the Pacific, was basically closed and only a truck with coffee could arrive. Difficulties with the flow of Colombian coffee have ...