80% of the coffee consumed in Colombia in 2012 was imported

About 80% of the coffee consumed in Colombia in 2012 was imported, despite the country being the world's fourth largest producer and leading exporter of mild washed Arabica coffee category, according to official figures.
The National Administrative Department of Statistics (DANE) confirmed that in 2012 Colombia imported, mainly from Ecuador and Peru, 1.03 million bags of coffee, which represents 80% of the coffee consumed in the country, the bulk of the story. For example, in 2000, were imported 21,400 bags of 60 pounds and purchases of grain from other countries surged in 2009, with 757,667 bags.
According to the report 'Café: world markets and trade', Department of Agriculture (USDA), Columbia began buying coffee just when the crisis started in the sector by the plagues and rains that led to a fall in production of 13 million bags in 2008 to less than 8 million in 2012. These purchases are mainly the soluble coffee industry, who buy Colombian production byproducts that do not even have enough quality to export.
The increase in imports was one of the reasons that farmers' protest for twelve days were manifested in the way the country to demand improvements in the sector until March 8 managed to reach an agreement with the government.
Colombia is the fourth largest coffee producer in the world, after Brazil, Vietnam and Indonesia, and produced 7.6 million bags in coffee year, which runs from October 2011 to September 2012. Despite the agreement of domestic subsidies for when the price of coffee lowered a lot, if not reached an agreement on purchases abroad. Moreover, the manager of the National Federation of Coffee Growers (FNC), Luis Genaro Muñoz explained that the increase in imports "is not an extraordinary phenomenon", saying that its origin was the fall in production and the continuity and improvement of technification Grain export quality.
Former Secretary General of FNC, Guillermo Trujillo, also said "the consumer is accustomed to a Colombian cup profile that resembles more to coffee that is now brought to the country, which is quality and lower price." "It was a dollar and our coffee is exported to U.S. $ 1.6. Therefore, is an exercise in winning producer, roaster and the consumer." Guillermo Trujillo said the local market was stocked with the highest quality grain, "the domestic prices of roasted and ground coffee would be unattainable for Colombians." The FNC brings together more than 560,000 families who live in coffee growing, even though the vast majority of farmers who protested in recent weeks reported not feel represented by this entity, which even accused of being closer to the Government of workers.
According to the International Coffee Organization (ICO), Colombian coffee growers are well appreciated by international markets and the quality of its grain is known and respected worldwide.
Source: CenárioMT