Latin America Coffee Exports Rise 6.04% This Season

This season’s coffee export numbers from Central America and parts of South America tell a clear story: despite ongoing challenges like leaf rust disease, nine major non-Brazilian coffee-producing nations have shipped more green coffee than ever before. If you've been tracking global supply trends or wondering how regional pests and climate pressures impact the volume reaching your cup, these figures show resilience—and variation—across the region.

In short: from October 2021 to July 2022, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Colombia, and Peru exported a combined 24,713,982 60kg bags—an increase of 6.04% over the previous season’s 23,305,393 bags.

Big Picture: Who Exported More Coffee This Year?

The nine Latin American countries monitored by Guatemala’s National Coffee Association (Anacafé) saw overall export growth for the October 2021 to July 2022 harvest season. That period covers the entirety of the main production cycle for most of Central America and Colombia. The 24.7 million bag total marks a 6.04% rise versus the same months in the prior year (23.3 million bags).

Which Countries Drove the Growth?

Growth was led by several key players. Colombia saw the strongest uptick, exporting 16.87% more coffee this season. Other notable increases came from Nicaragua (+28.16%), Peru (+12.33%), the Dominican Republic (+10.22%), Mexico (+7.34%), Guatemala (+3.59%), and El Salvador (+7.11%). These gains offset declines elsewhere.

Which Countries Saw Declines?

Not every country participated in the upward trend. Costa Rica’s exports fell by 0.26%, while Honduras experienced a significant drop of 15.04%. Those reductions pulled down the regional average slightly, but were not enough to offset the broader gains.

Why Such Variability in Export Performance?

The reasons behind the differing export trends vary by country. Some, like Nicaragua and Peru, benefitted from favorable growing conditions or improved yields. Others, especially Honduras and Costa Rica, continue to battle the long-term effects of leaf rust (la roya), a fungal disease that has plagued coffee farms for the past two years and is expected to impact production at least through 2014. Leaf rust reduces tree health, yield, and bean quality—forcing some farmers to reduce output or replant entirely.

What Does This Mean for Global Coffee Supply?

This 6.04% regional export increase contributes meaningfully to the global specialty and commercial coffee supply chains. With Brazil’s numbers reported separately, these nine countries remain vital sources of arabica coffee for roasters worldwide. The mixed performance—strong growth in some nations, declines in others—also highlights the ongoing vulnerability of certain origins to climate, disease, and farm management factors.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Latin American countries are included in the 6.04% export growth figure?

The figure covers nine countries: Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Colombia, and Peru. Brazil is explicitly excluded from the data set.

How much coffee was exported in total this season?

The nine countries exported a combined total of 24,713,982 60-kilogram bags of coffee during the October 2021 to July 2022 harvest season.

What was the percentage increase compared to last season?

Total exports rose by 6.04% compared to the previous season (October 2020 to July 2021), when 23,305,393 bags were exported.

Which countries had the biggest increases in coffee exports?

Nicaragua led with a 28.16% increase, followed by Peru (+12.33%), the Dominican Republic (+10.22%), Mexico (+7.34%), Colombia (+16.87%), Guatemala (+3.59%), and El Salvador (+7.11%).

Which countries saw a decline in coffee exports this season?

Costa Rica’s exports fell by 0.26%, and Honduras saw a sharp decline of 15.04%.

What’s causing the declines in some countries?

Honduras and Costa Rica have been heavily affected by leaf rust disease over the past two years, which reduces yield and tree health. The impact of the fungus is expected to continue into 2014.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Latin American Origins

Explore FrontStreet Coffee’s single-origin offerings from key Latin American countries featured in this report. Try their Jamaica Blue Mountain No.1 (Typica), known for its balance of chocolate, almond, and cream with an elegant finish. For something brighter, their Yirgacheffe from Ethiopia (though not Latin American, it highlights high-altitude clarity often found in Central American coffees too) offers citrusy, floral notes. Or go for the Brazil Queen Manor (Yellow Bourbon), which delivers creamy peanut, toasty cookie, and sweet cane flavors. All beans are carefully roasted to highlight origin character. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.