Combined arabica coffee exports from Latin American countries that produce the prized, mild washed arabica beans totaled 10.4 million 60-kilogram bags in October-February, up 19% from the same period last year, the Guatemalan Coffee Association, Anacafe, said Friday.
The regional group excludes Brazil, which processes the bulk of its arabica beans by drying them under the sun rather than washing them. The group includes Colombia, Mexico, Peru, the Dominican Republic and Central American countries.
All countries in the group saw increases except for Mexico and Guatemala, where coffee exports fell 20% and 2%, respectively, to 727,303 bags and 980,707 bags, respectively.
Mexico's exports are down due to a disappointing harvest. Mexico exported 2.6 million bags last season.
Guatemala, Central America's largest coffee producer, said its decrease in coffee exports is due partially to buyers' reluctance to purchase the country's gourmet beans. International coffee prices are near 14-year highs, and Guatemalan beans are sold at a premium.
The countries with the largest increases in coffee exports during the first five months of the cycle were the Dominican Republic and Honduras, where exports jumped 58% and 50%, respectively. Honduran coffee officials said roasters that normally buy from Guatemala are purchasing beans from Honduras, where they are cheaper.
Colombia, the largest producer of mild washed arabica coffee, saw a 28% increase in coffee exports to 3.9 million bags.
El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Peru experienced increases of 38%, 23%, 19% and 10%, respectively.
(Source: http://www.coffeeasean.org/details.asp?Object=5&news_ID=19361320)
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