A powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on August 10, 2026, causing significant disruption in major coffee-producing departments and bringing exports from the port of Buenaventura to a standstill. The event has prompted an immediate response from industry bodies to assess the damage to infrastructure and personnel in the affected areas.
The National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia (FNC) has deployed teams to regions including Risaralda, Valle del Cauca, Caldas, and Quindío to evaluate the impact on farms, processing infrastructure, and producer housing. According to the Association of Coffee Exporters (Asoexport), many coffee processing plants and transport companies have suspended operations due to power outages, communication failures, and damage to key transportation routes.
The primary logistical challenge is the closure of the Cali–Buenaventura road, the main artery to Colombia's principal coffee port. Port terminal operators in Buenaventura are assessing structural integrity and have suspended or limited the reception of coffee shipments. While other ports remain operational, a shortage of trucks complicates the rerouting of cargo. Asoexport warns that even after infrastructure is restored, the resulting backlog of shipments will likely cause significant delivery delays and further pressure on the supply chain.