REPUBLIC OF COLOMBIA COUNTRY REPORT 2007

Transcription

1 REPUBLIC OF COLOMBIA COUNTRY REPORT 2007 AREA, PRODUCTION AND COTTON CROP YIELD Due to improvement in agricultural practices, the low rate of pest incidence during the growing season, and the increase in participation of transgenetic seeds in crops, average cotton fiber production per hectare went from 774 kilograms per hectare to 907 kilograms per hectare. The total area harvested in 2007 was 46,297 hectares of which 68.7% was planted on the Caribbean Coast, and 31.3% within the interior region of the country. The main variety used was Bollgard I with a 41% share of the total area planted, followed by Delta Opal which yielded a share of 35% of the area planted. Cotton in Colombia is a small-producer crop: average size of the cropping lots, for this season, was 7 hectares and 27.5% were lots smaller than 5 hectares. Projections for 2008 show a new reduction in cotton-growing areas at the national level due to strong changes in weather patterns recorded during the second half of this year, which has caused significant flooding and prolonged rain within the traditional cotton-growing areas of the Colombian Caribbean Area. Forecasts to date are 42,565 hectares with fiber production at 40,937 tons.

2 COLOMBIA: AREA, PRODUCTION AND YIELD AREA PLANTED (Ha) FIBER PRODUCTION (Tons) FIBER YIELD (Tons/Ha) * 2008** COAST INTERIOR NATIONAL COAST INTERIOR NATIONAL COAST 0,701 0,834 0,917 INTERIOR 0,934 1,045 1,044 NATIONAL 0,774 0,900 0,962 Source : Economic Statistics and Analysis Unit CONALGODON *PRELIMINAR **ESTIMATED TRANSGENETIC SEED In 2007, 20,953 hectares were seeded with genetically modified seeds distributed in the following manner: 8.4% STACKED GENE I (RR+Bollgard I), and 91.6% BOLLGARD I. HECTARES ,436 Has (17,33%) 25,910 Has (35,34%) Has (41,82%) Has (45,26%) Conventional GMO Source: Economic Statistics and Analysis Unit CONALGODON

3 RE-EVALUATION OF NATIONAL CURRENCY The re-evaluation of the rate of exchange for the national currency (Colombian Peso) in 2007 steepened. This phenomenon has been going on for three yeas so that between January 2003 and August 2007 the Colombian Peso vs. the US Dollar went up 24.6%, going from a rate of exchange of 2,865 Colombian Pesos per US Dollar at the beginning of said period, to 2,161 Colombian Pesos per US Dollar at the end of August Within this same realm, competitiveness was lost within production costs which, expressed in US Dollars, are currently 24.6% higher than in 2003 due to the impact of the behavior of the rate of exchange. A negative effect is also faced in exporting strategies for the Colombian cotton sector. Pesos/US$ Colombia: evolvement of the rate of Exchange on a daily basis January 2003 August ,6% / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /2007 Source: Central Bank of Colombia Calculations: Economic Statistics and Analysis Unit CONALGODON

4 QUALITY CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FIBER The quality of Colombian fiber continues to improve over time as evidenced in the HVI Test results applied to 100% of the cotton in Colombia. Below are highlighted the main quality characteristics for 2006 compared to those obtained in 2003, thus evidencing the improvement made over the last few years. Length: HVI results for 2006 show that 84.1% of the fiber produced is found within the ranges of equal to or better than 1-1/8, corresponding to long strands. Uniformity: 98.4% of the fiber has equal uniformity or higher than 80%, or, within the intermediate and very high ranges. Strength: 99.4% are found within ranges equal to or higher than or at 26 GPT, considered to be cotton between medium and very resistant, having maintained this characteristic over time. Micronaire: 96.8% of the harvest was within the ranges comprised between 3.5 and 4.9, considered to be basic and optimum ranges. Grade: 51.2% of the harvest for 2006/07 was high GM and SM grades. Production of high-quality cotton and the improvement of its characteristics across time made CONALGODON, economic-sector organization for producers and gins begin searching the specialized niche markets for high-quality fiber destined for the production of high-added-value threads and textiles. That is how exports to Peru began in 2006.

5 Colombia: fiber quality characteristics 2003 vs ( % ) Characteristic Micronaire Length Uniformity (%) Strength (GPT) 2003 Colombia 2006 Range Tons. % Distr. Tons. % Distr. Diff (%) 3.7 to 4.2 Optimal , ,2 60,1 3.5 to 3.6 y 4.3 to 4.9 Base , ,6 36,4 < to 3.4 and >5 Discount , ,2-68,9 1-7/32 and > 118 0, ,5 831,0 1 3/16" , ,6 344,9 1 5/32" , ,8 93,7 1 1/8" , ,2 8,1 1 3/32" , ,0-35,3 1 1/16" , ,1-68,8 1 1/32" , ,6-73,6 1" and < 76 0,2 55 0,1-27,4 High and very high (83 and >) , ,0 51,2 Intermediate (80-82) , ,5 11,2 Low (79-77) , ,6-52,6 Very low (76 and <) 1 0,0 0 0,0-100,0 31 y > , ,2 216, , ,3-27, , ,5-57,5 23 y < 34 0,1 23 0,1-34,0 COLOMBIAN COTTON REACHES THE PERUVIAN MARKET After signing a sanitary protocol and attaining permission for Colombian cotton to enter the Peruvian market, the first exports were made to Peru during the first half of 2007, which was 486 tons and a second operation is under way for 600 tons for the second half of September 2007