Supporting Colombia After the Earthquake

I was in Medellín, Colombia when the earthquake struck, and experiencing it firsthand was both frightening and humbling. We are deeply grateful that all our partners, suppliers, and their families are safe and sound.

In difficult moments like this, the strength and resilience of the Colombian people shine through. Communities immediately rallied together to support those affected, offering help wherever it was needed.

Earthquake Impact on Colombia Exports

Most of our coffee exports from Colombia leave through the Port of Cartagena, which was not affected by the earthquake. The Port of Buenaventura, however, did sustain damage. Although the port and its cranes remain operational, its administrative offices were destroyed.

Of greater concern to the coffee industry, many roads connecting Colombia’s coffee-growing regions to Buenaventura were damaged. This could delay shipments moving through Buenaventura and redirect additional cargo through Cartagena, potentially causing congestion and delays there as well.

At this moment, it is still too early to determine the full impact on coffee shipments. The Colombian government is working to restore critical infrastructure and get transportation routes back on track. We will continue monitoring the situation and keep our customers and partners informed as more information becomes available.

How You Can Help

To support relief efforts, Royal New York has made a donation to Presentes Corporación. The organization does tremendous work delivering assistance directly to affected communities while keeping overhead expenses very low.

If you would like to contribute to the emergency-relief effort, you can learn more and contribute directly to their U.S.-based campaign, Colombia Se Levanta.

Our thoughts are with everyone impacted by the earthquake—and with the remarkable people working to help Colombia recover.