During the first six months of the year, coffee exports from Central American countries totaled $1,948 million, 9% less than what was reported in the same period in 2017.
Figures from the information system on the coffee market in Central America complied by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with graphic"]
The disease has decreased considerably in recent years, as between 2014 and October 2018 the portion of the coffee plantation affected in El Salvador decreased from 38% to 10%.
According to monthly monitoring by the National Center for Agricultural and Forestry Technology (CENTA), the country's coffee plantation, which has been one of the most affected by the disease in the region, has considerably reduced the presence of rust.
The Salvadoran Coffee Council and Alliance for Coffee Excellence announced that during March 2019 samples will be received to participate in the contest.
The organizers informed that from November 2018 to January 2019 the participants of the international quality contest "Cup of Excellence El Salvador 2019" will be trained. The period for receiving samples is from March 11th to 15th and from March 18th to 22nd, 2019.
Because of the drought and the decrease in international prices, the trade guilds of the sector in El Salvador are projecting a decrease in production for the next harvests.
Marcelino Samayoa, CEO of the Asociación Salvadoreña de Beneficiadores y Exportadores (Abecafé), explained to Elmundo.sv that "... The drought registered in 2018 caused a slow increase in the ‘bandolas’, which are the branches of the coffee segments that should be there for 2019/2020.
In Guatemala the union of producers has stated that a reduction in international prices is affecting the sector, which is already facing difficulties in covering production costs.
The National Coffee Association attributes the problem to international consortia, which may be exerting further downward pressure on grain prices.They warn that this situation will have a strong impact on the national economy, because with current prices, producers are not even able to cover their costs.
Prices for all coffee groups fell in July 2018, though the largest month-on month decrease occurred for Brazilian Naturals, which declined by 4% to 110.54 US cents/lb.
From the monthly report by the ICO:
In July 2018, the ICO composite indicator price decreased by 2.9% to an average of 107.20 US cents/lb, which is the lowest monthly average for July since 2007, when the monthly composite indicator reached 106.20 US cents/lb.
With a loan from the BCIE, the Salvadoran government intends to finance a coffee renewal program, which would cover some 21,000 manzanas of crops.
The Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI ) reported that the funds will be used to respond to the challenges of the coffee sector in El Salvador, supporting the renovation of 20,777.4 manzanas of the crop, contributing to the transfer of sustainable technologies, increasing the capacity of resilience and improving the institutionality related to coffee.
In the last six years the average export price of Central American coffee has been trending downwards, with the price per kilo falling from $4.51 in March 2012, to $3.10 in the same month in 2018.
Figures from the information system on the Coffee Market in Central America, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with graph"]
Plant diseases such as rust in coffee plantations, added to an oversupply of sugar worldwide, explain some of the moderate expectations that entrepreneurs have for some of the most important agricultural products in the region.
Representatives of the Coordinating Committee of Agricultural, Commercial, Industrial and Financial Associations (Cacif) of Guatemala believe that the deceleration that has been registered in international prices of some raw materials and agro-industrial products suggest a decline in local production.
Due to the climatic conditions predicted for the months of July and August, an increase is expected in the presence of the disease in coffee plantations in Costa Rica.
During July there is a typical decrease in rainfall known as "la canícula", a period in which Rust progresses slowly and the emergence of new lesions is less.However, at the same time there is a greater presence of spores in the lesiones favored by the warmer temperature and by weaker and less frequent rains.This situation will promote a largeincrease in the disease in the majority of the Costa Rican coffee plantations when more abundant rains return starting in August, reported the Coffee Institute of Costa Rica (Icafé).
The lot that this year was best quoted in the international electronic auction reached $30 thousand per hundredweight, and the grain comes from the canton of Dota, Los Santos zone, Costa Rica.
The high quality coffee that received the best quote in the international electronic auction in the Cup of Excellence contest is from the Don Cayito farm, with a price of $30,009 per hundredweight.
In Congress, work is being done on a bill that would create a research institute, long awaited for by local coffee growers.
The deputies announced that they are working in the Assemblytogether with the Coffee Table, on the request by producers to create an institution that will carry out research to improve the sector's productivity.
Between May 30 and July 31, 18 million rust-resistant coffee plants will be distributed to local producers, with which 12.000 acres of coffee plantation will be renewed.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock reported that "... The requirements to receive coffee plants are: to be a coffee producer, to have a valid Salvadoran Coffee Council card, willingness to prepare the land, plant the plants and provide them with adequate maintenance. For more information, coffee growers can call 2397-2260 from the CENTA-Café Management or visit the 23 extension offices throughout the country."
Last year coffee sales in Central American countries totaled $3.035 million and grew by 27% compared to 2016, in contrast to the fall recorded between 2015 and 2016.
Figures from the information system on the Coffee Marketin Central America, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData : [GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with graph"]
Local and foreign companies share a growing market, driven by greater consumer sophistication, where quality coffee is demanded, and by the trends imposed by international brands.
The presence of coffee shops has been growing in the country, especially in the capital and in urban areas.International brands such as Starbucks and Juan Valdez compete with Salvadoran brands such as Coffee Cup.
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