Colombia’s main Pacific port, Buenaventura, has partially resumed coffee export operations following a 7.4 magnitude earthquake that struck the region on Monday, August 10. The tremor, with an epicenter in the Chocó province, was the most severe to affect the area in decades, with shocks felt as far away as Panama and El Salvador.
According to Gustavo Goméz, Executive President of Colombia’s Coffee Exporters Association (Asoexport), heavy cargo vehicles began moving through the port again on Wednesday, August 12. However, traffic remains limited and infrequent. Exporters also resumed dispatching shipments on Wednesday, with initial reports indicating no significant damage to coffee processing and milling facilities in the area.
To mitigate logistical bottlenecks and ease the strain on Buenaventura’s limited capacity, authorities are encouraging exporters to reroute shipments through other national ports, including Cartagena, Santa Marta, and Puerto Antioquia. The port of Buenaventura is a critical hub for the country's trade, handling not only coffee but also a significant portion of Colombia's sugar, cotton, gold, and platinum exports.