Small-scale shipments boost Colombian coffee exporters

The number of registered coffee exporters has increased significantly in recent months as a result of the Colombian Coffee Growers Federation's (FNC) efforts to promote direct coffee sales and increase the income of coffee growers. Since 28 April, all natural and legal persons registered as a coffee exporters have been able to export Colombian coffee in small quantities via international shipping and express courier companies. During May 2016, 40 new exporters were registered. This represented a 74 per cent increase compared to the 23 new registrations formalised in April 2016 and a 135 per cent increase compared to the monthly average of 17 new registrations between January and March 2016. As of 1 June, the total number of active registered coffee exporters was of 331 (108 new registrations and 223 renewed registrations). The small-quantity coffee export policy seeks to support producers and small-scale coffee businesses in accessing new customers and markets directly, when unable to do so in large volumes.