U.S. Dry Bean Exports to Columbia Hit Record High in 2016

January 17, 2017
Posted in: News

U.S. dry bean exports to Colombia reached a record high of 12, 206 MT during the 2016 marketing year (U.S. Census Bureau ). Several different classes of beans were exported, including cranberry, pinto light red kidney beans, dark red kidney beans, black beans, navy beans and Great Northern beans. U.S. cranberry beans proved to be a popular substitute for the locally produced cargamanto bean, which is similar in appearance (but significantly larger). Last summer, Colombia’s dry bean sector started to rebound from two years of severe drought. Stronger domestic production stabilized prices and Colombia’s bean sector began purchasing more local product resulting in reduced imports.

Columbia-Dry-Bean-Exports

Columbia Dry Bean Exports – Source: Corabastos

This is still a relatively new market for U.S. dry bean exports as a result of the US/Colombia Free Trade Agreement. We have established a permanent foothold in Colombia and should expect to see consistent dry bean exports in the future.