Sugar, Coffee, Dependency: Why Valle del Cauca Seeks New Markets

From coffee to sugar, Valle del Cauca in Colombia depends heavily on the US market. Companies warn of risks, and race to diversify their exports.

Transcript

00:00This is Colombia's number one export, coffee.

00:03In 2025, it brought in more money than oil.

00:06But it wasn't easy for the farmers.

00:09The reason? Donald Trump and his tariffs.

00:12For producers and exporters, the challenge is dependency and finding new buyers.

00:25For example, Asia, an emerging market where people don't traditionally drink much coffee.

00:31But this isn't easy.

00:33And for most Colombian coffee farmers, it is not a solution.

00:36In Valladolca, they can't do without the U.S. anyway.

00:39A quarter of the region's exports go to North America.

00:43And it is not just coffee.

00:45Agribusiness dominates here, especially sugarcane.

00:48The company, Rio Pila, is the region's largest producer,

00:52processing around 17,000 tons daily.

00:55Rio Pila, too, looked nervously toward the U.S. last year.

00:59El mercado más importante hoy es Estados Unidos como país,

01:03pero la Unión Europea para nosotros con un 15% tiene una relevancia muy importante como bloque.

01:09In Valladolca, companies know the risk of relying on one country.

01:13So they are looking for new markets, for sugar and for their top export, coffee.

01:21Los Angeles

01:23Los Angelesровoo

01:23You