Authorities and farmers are making inventories of existing stocks in order to determine the amount that would be required to satisfy the local market.

"The low crop yields, the attack of the 'Ojo de Gallo' fungus and the escape of raw materials to Costa Rica has caused shortage, driving the price per quintal of coffee," adds Prensa.com.

Source: Prensa.com

More on this topic

Panama: Onion Import Suspended

October 2011

Administrative delays by the government have forced producers to change the decision to import 40 quintals to ensure supplies of onions for November and December.

The agreement that had been reached by producers and the government has been suspended, as producers argue that due to delays in the importation authorization process, entry of the imported onions would coincide with local harvest and would therefore lower prices.

Free Market Vs Food Safety

September 2011

Panama is experiencing a repeat of the Central American basic food drama, with poorly planned local production, very low cost imports and consumer high prices.

Recent statistics from the Panamanian Authority for Food Safety (AUPs) show the figures for onion (71,348 quintals) and potato (22,809 bushels) imports in the first eight months of the year, which in the view of the Association of Agricultural Producers in Chiriqui (Aproachi) have caused a glut in the local market. Surplus goods end up displacing local producers, said Ariel Rios, president of Aproachi.

Panama: Coffee to be Imported to Meet Local Demand

June 2011

The shortage is predicted for July and August and grain will be supplied from the Dominican Republic, Brazil and the U.S.

Climate change, attack by the "cats eye" fungus, and the outfloe of raw materials to Costa Rica are among the factors that necessitate an import in the coming months.

Panama to Import Coffee for Domestic Market

March 2011

Due to poor yields during harvest the country must import about 6 million quintals of coffee in order to supply demand from the local market.

The purchase will be made through Bolsa Nacional de Productos (Baisa), arriving the country in late April.

"Faced with decline in coffee production, on March 20th, coffee growers and agricultural authorities will meet in Boquete, Chiriqui Province, to define a future strategy for the coffee industry," reported Prensa.com.