Costa Rica’s inexperienced espresso manufacturing is forecast to rise 3.5% to 1.2 million 60-kilogram luggage in market yr 2026/27, although a robust native forex, decrease espresso costs and better manufacturing prices are anticipated to restrict good points amongst farmers, based on the most recent USDA International Agricultural Service annual report.
The report forecasts exports rising 3.9% to 1.06 million 60-kilogram luggage, supported by the upper manufacturing. Home consumption is predicted to stay flat at 320,000 60-kilogram luggage as excessive costs and sluggish inhabitants development restrict demand.
[Note: This is part of an ongoing series of DCN stories that explore USDA FAS country-level coffee reports, which are produced by different authors and field offices around the world.]
Manufacturing Good points Face Limits
The 2026/27 forecast would put Costa Rican manufacturing above the 1.16 million luggage estimated for 2025/26, although nonetheless beneath the 1.315 million luggage estimated for 2024/25. Costa Rica stays targeted virtually fully on arabica manufacturing.
FAS mentioned the 2026/27 crop is predicted to profit from the excessive yr within the nation’s biennial manufacturing cycle. But a number of elements are anticipated to maintain development modest, together with trade price stress, increased fertilizer and gasoline prices, decrease worldwide costs and the potential results of El Niño.
The Costa Rican espresso institute ICAFE mentioned the power of the Costa Rican colón stays the sector’s largest concern. The colón has appreciated roughly 35% since mid-2022, decreasing local-currency returns for an export-oriented sector even when dollar-denominated espresso costs are comparatively excessive. The report additionally says the stronger colón has decreased revenues to growers by practically 30% since market yr 2021/22, when the trade price reached a peak.
Costs Fall as Colón Stays Sturdy
Based on ICAFE, espresso costs fell from $574 per 60-kilogram bag in October 2025 to $378 in April 2026, creating expectations of decrease future revenue.
FAS mentioned the typical export worth for 2025/26 espresso was up 10.5% via April 2026, reaching $449.70 per bag. But the typical trade price moved from 504.76 colones per U.S. greenback to 459.65, leading to a 9% discount in local-currency income.
The Variety of Farmers is Declining
Espresso-planted space is forecast to carry at about 83,000 hectares in 2026/27, whereas harvested space is forecast at 79,000 hectares. The newest out there space survey confirmed nationwide planted space fell 11.9% between 2018 and 2022, with declines in most areas exterior Los Santos.
ICAFE mentioned Costa Rica had 24,653 espresso growers in 2024/25, down from 25,549 the yr earlier than and 48% beneath the extent from a decade earlier. Lengthy intervals of low espresso costs, ageing farmers and excessive land costs close to city areas have contributed to the decline.
Climate and Labor Add Uncertainty
The Costa Rican Nationwide Meteorological Institute (IMN) mentioned El Niño will probably have an effect on Costa Rica in the course of the second half of 2026, doubtlessly decreasing rainfall by 10% to 30% in some areas. FAS mentioned the timing of the climate sample will decide results on espresso manufacturing.
Labor stays one other problem. The report mentioned Panamanian Ngäbe-Buglé staff now harvest most of Costa Rica’s espresso crop, whereas sluggish immigration processes are creating uncertainty for growers.
Exports Rise, Consumption Holds Flat
Exports are forecast at 1.06 million luggage in 2026/27, together with 1.05 million luggage of inexperienced espresso and 10,000 luggage of roasted espresso. America stays Costa Rica’s high inexperienced espresso export market, accounting for 39.6% of inexperienced espresso exports in 2024/25, adopted by the European Union as the opposite main vacation spot.
Home consumption is forecast to stay at 320,000 luggage, with excessive retail costs limiting development. In the meantime, the Costa Rican espresso sector is working to strengthen traceability techniques for compliance with European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) necessities.
Feedback? Questions? Information to share? Contact DCN’s editors right here. For all the most recent espresso trade information, subscribe to the DCN e-newsletter.
