Importing coffee from Colombia: logistics & Incoterms
Once you've chosen your coffee, the logistics determine when and how it arrives. Here's how green coffee moves from Colombia to your roastery.
Ports and packing
The great majority of Colombian coffee leaves through Buenaventura on the Pacific, with Cartagena and Santa Marta on the Caribbean also significant. Coffee is typically packed in 70 kg jute bags, frequently with GrainPro or vacuum liners to protect freshness, and loaded as bagged container loads or in bulk.
Incoterms
Agree your Incoterm up front: FOB (loaded at the Colombian port), CFR (freight to destination port included) or CIF (freight and insurance included). This defines who arranges and pays for ocean freight and insurance, and where risk transfers.
Documentation
- Commercial invoice and packing list.
- Bill of lading.
- Certificate of origin (and the FNC coffee export documentation for Colombian coffee).
- Certificates for any certified coffee (RA, Fairtrade, organic) and phytosanitary documents as required.
Lead times and quality protection
Plan around the harvest calendar and shipping schedules, and confirm specifications before shipment. Working with an established exporter helps keep documentation clean and customs clearance smooth. Expocafé manages preparation, certification and shipping in one place — tell us your destination port and Incoterm and we'll quote accordingly.
Frequently asked questions
Which port does Colombian coffee ship from?
Most Colombian coffee ships from Buenaventura on the Pacific coast, with Cartagena and Santa Marta on the Caribbean also important. We quote FOB from the relevant port, or CFR/CIF to your destination.
What Incoterms do you offer?
Typically FOB (Colombian port), CFR (freight included) and CIF (freight and insurance included). We agree the term with you before contracting.
What documents come with a coffee shipment?
Commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, certificate of origin and the relevant coffee-export and certification documents, plus phytosanitary papers where required.
Further reading
Plan your Colombian coffee shipment
Tell us your destination port, Incoterm and volume and we'll quote and manage the logistics.