Brazil’s coffee exports to Colombia jump 461% as trade shifts under U.S. tariffs

Brazil’s coffee exports to Colombia rose 461% in September, according to data released Monday (6) by the Secretariat of Foreign Trade (Secex).

Following the U.S. decision to impose steep 50% tariffs on Brazilian exports, coffee — one of the targeted products — began finding alternative outlets. Russia, for example, set a record for imports of Brazilian coffee in 2025, with a total of 732,300 bags in the first half of the year.

The sharp increase in coffee trade with Colombia involved exports of 7,057 bags in a single month, up 129% from August and more than 460% compared with the same period last year.

Colombia is one of the world’s top producers of washed arabica coffee, internationally recognized for its quality. In 2024, the country produced 13.9 million 60-kg bags, with exports increasing by approximately 16%.

According to the Brazilian Coffee Exporters Council (Cecafé), exports to Colombia rose nearly sixfold in August, shortly after the U.S. imposed the 50% tariff — previously, the United States had been the main destination for Brazilian coffee.

Shipments to Mexico also increased, from 132,000 bags in August 2024 to 251,000 in the same month of 2025.

Analysts believe that Mexico and Colombia may be taking advantage of the increased availability of Brazilian coffee to re-export it indirectly to the U.S., as their own exports are exempt from the Trump administration’s tariffs.

There is also concern that Colombian producers — whose coffee is typically of higher quality and sold at premium prices — could be blending Brazilian coffee with their own to reduce costs.

Conilon coffee, Brazil’s main variety used for instant coffee production, is not grown in either Mexico or Colombia; instead, it is widely exported from Brazil. It accounted for 36% of the Brazilian coffee imported by Colombia and 78% of that imported by Mexico.

Experts note that this may signal a trend toward these countries processing Brazilian conilon into instant coffee and then exporting it to the U.S.

According to Secex data, the U.S. tariff hike has not had the intended effect — at least in the agricultural sector. Brazilian beef, which now faces a 76% tariff to enter the U.S. market, has been redirected to other destinations.

In September, Brazil’s meat exports hit a record 2.4 million tonnes, generating US$12.23 billion in revenue. From January to August, the export volume increased by 15%, while revenue rose by 32.9% compared to the same period in 2024.

China remains the top destination for Brazilian meat, especially poultry, followed by the United States and Chile. The market has also been diversifying to include Mexico, the European Union, and Canada.

Source: Revista Fórum

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