Panamas coffee profile still climbing

The image of Panama coffee in world markets continues to rise in spite of a disastrous year for producers plagued by excessive rain and a blight.

Coffee producers from the Lérida estate in Chiriquí have sent a shipment of 1,200 quintals of specialty coffee to vendors in the United States, following  participation in coffee fairs in the U.S. says Minister of Commerce and Industry Roberto Henríquez

At a internations fair in Houston, Texas, held from April 23 to May 1, Panamanian coffee companies had the opportunity to make contact with more than 10,000 potential customers and distributors.

The next major target will be an fair in Japan in September. Japan is already a  major purchaser of the specialty geisha coffee.

Producers are also seeking ways to entice buyers from the European market and with the passing through Parliament  of the Canada-Panama Free Trade Agreement in the fall, Canada will become another prime target.

The smaller yield this year has pushed coffee prices up by as much as 40%.