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Adrian Kenneth Halili - The Philippine Star
October 18, 2026 | 12:00am
The output of local coffee growers is seen to decline amid higher costs and the prolonged El Niño.
STAR / File
El Niño, rising costs
MANILA, Philippines — Local coffee production is expected to decline this year as farmers contend with the effects of El Niño and rising production costs, an industry group said.
The Philippine Coffee Board Inc. (PCBI) said local coffee production is unlikely to reach 30,000 metric tons (MT) this year due to the compounded effects of El Niño and higher input costs.
“We might not reach 30,000 MT, as coffee varieties that used to grow in low-lying areas now need to be planted at higher altitudes because global temperatures have significantly risen,” PCBI chairperson Pacita Juan told reporters on the sidelines of an industry event.
Juan said the coffee industry has been promoting more climate-resilient varieties and sustainable farming practices to help coffee plants better withstand adverse climate conditions.
She added that coffee varieties like Liberica, Excelsa and Robusta are more resistant compared to the typical Arabica coffee.
She noted that for Arabica, farmers may need to find higher-altitude locations as areas below 1,300 meters might be too warm to plant coffee.
Juan said PCIB has been actively promoting the use of organic inputs to reduce costs and lessen the use of petroleum-based fertilizers, which have risen in prices in the past few months.
“We are encouraging farmers to use their own inputs. That is why we are advocating for organic agriculture,” she added.
PCBI has also been collaborating with local government units and the Department of Agriculture for fertilizer support for coffee farmers.
The country’s coffee bean production reached 35,650 MT in 2025, an 11.5-percent increase from 31,980 MT the previous year, according to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority.
The Philippines remains reliant on imported coffee to meet growing domestic demand, as local production only meets about 40 percent.
