Bolivian coffee gains ground in the international market: U.S., Belgium, and France lead demand | Café boliviano gana terreno en el mercado internacional: EE.UU, Bélgica y Francia lideran la demanda

By Ernesto Estremadoiro, El Deber:

café boliviano

Bolivian coffee continues to gain ground abroad / Photo: ABI

Coffee exports reached over 5 million dollars by April 2025. Unroasted coffee represents the bulk of shipments, according to a report by the IBCE based on data from the INE.

Bolivian coffee exports continue to consolidate as a dynamic sector within the country’s agro-export portfolio. Between 2015 and 2024, Bolivia earned 108 million dollars from the sale of 17,000 tons of coffee. The year 2022 stood out as the best-performing year, with 2,500 tons exported for a value of 16 million dollars.

According to the most recent bulletin from the Bolivian Institute of Foreign Trade (IBCE), based on preliminary data from the National Institute of Statistics (INE), by April 2025 Bolivia had exported 655,773 kilograms of coffee, totaling 5.01 million dollars in revenue. The most in-demand variety was unroasted, non-decaffeinated coffee, which accounted for 99.6% of the exported volume and generated nearly 5 million dollars in income.

In terms of destinations, Bolivian coffee reached 24 countries. The United States was the main buyer, accounting for 27% of the total export value, followed by Belgium (26%) and France (14%). Other significant markets were Chile (6%) and Denmark (4%), reflecting growing demand in Europe and North America for differentiated, high-quality origin coffees.

This performance highlights the growth potential of Bolivia’s coffee sector, especially in an international context that increasingly values Andean and fair-trade products. Bolivian coffee, mostly produced by small farmers in regions such as Yungas and Caranavi, has managed to position itself in niche markets that seek quality, traceability, and sustainable production.

Figures from the first four months of 2025—according to the IBCE—show that despite logistical challenges and limited access to foreign currency affecting other sectors, coffee continues on a positive export path. To consolidate this growth, analysts and producers agree on the need to promote policies that support national coffee production, industrialization, and international promotion.

Leave a comment