Latin America: coffee production 2015-2020, by country

Brazil is by far the largest coffee producing country in Latin America, with an average annual production of more than 50 million 60-kilogram bags. In the 2018/2019 crop year, the country reached an output of nearly 63 million bags, representing over one third of the global coffee production that year. Colombia ranks second in the region, with almost 14 million bags produced.

Brazil: a robust coffee producer

Even on a global scale, Brazil leads its competitors by a wide margin. Home to most of the world’s arabica beans, the Portuguese speaking nation produces more coffee than Vietnam, Colombia, Indonesia, and Ethiopia combined. However, Brazil’s numbers falter when it comes to exports to its North American neighbor, the United States, who make up the largest population of coffee consumers in the world. In 2019, Colombia led the coffee import market in the U.S., surpassing Brazil by about 100 million U.S. dollars. Undeterred by Brazil’s dominance in the global production arena, the country’s South American neighbors are not be underestimated.

Colombia: a competitive coffee market

Famous for its mild Arabica roast, Colombia’s presence as a competitive coffee powerhouse goes without saying. In 2019, the South American country’s green coffee exports generated over two billion U.S. dollars. That same year, Colombia’s coffee imports amounted to approximately 44 thousand tons, while domestic consumption was estimated at two million bags. Ultimately, with a population of 50 million people, Colombia is a significant coffee player in both production and consumption.