Protests slow produce exports from Colombia
More than a month of protests over a tax reform bill in Colombia have slowed the exports of some agricultural commodities, including hass avocados and bananas, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reports.
On April 28, mass protests erupted across Colombia in response to President Duque’s tax reform bill, according to a June 8 USDA report.
Despite the bill being withdrawn, the protests and unrest continue and are obstructing the movement of goods throughout Colombia, impeding bilateral agricultural trade, and raising food prices in the country, according to the report.
“The agricultural sector is sustaining major losses due to road blockades and unrest,” the report said. “The Colombian Ministry of Agriculture estimates economic losses of more than $700 million, due to road blockages and raw material shortages impacting the production and transport of food.”
The report said that since nationwide protests began April 28, Colombia has been unable to distribute more than 350,000 metric tons of grains (including 250,000 metric tons of U.S. grains) from Buenaventura port, due to protests and road blockages.
Colombian commodity exports (approximately $240 million), such as sugar, coffee, bananas, and hass avocados are also stuck in producing areas, the report said.
“Road openings at the end of May allowed for a brief uptick, but agricultural producer organizations are concerned that driver shortages driven by fears of attacks will continue to limit the cargo transported into and out of Buenaventura,” the report said.
