Industry Structure

There are close to 20,000 coffee producers in El Salvador. Small and medium-sized holdings of less than 120 hectares account for about 65% of production. Producers accounting for about 25% of total production are grouped in marketing cooperatives which together form the “Union de Cooperatives Cafetaleras de El Salvador” “UCAFES” (Organization of Coffee Producing Cooperatives of El Salvador). A land reform carried out in 1980 led to the creation of the “Union de Cooperatives Productoras y Beneficiadoras de Cafe”, “UCRAPROBEX” (Organization of Land Reform Coffee Producing and Processing Cooperatives). UCRAPROPBEX groups small farmers who before the reform didn't`t have access to land and accounts for 10% of national production. Other organizations include the “ Association de Beneficiadores y Exportadores de Cafe”, ABECAFE (Association of millers and Coffee Exporters), which groups the majority of the 99 coffee millers and exporters; The association of Coffee Producers of El Salvador, representing all producers, and the Itzalco Coffee Association of El Salvador, which represents 22 exporters engaged in the production and export specialty coffees.

These four coffee Organizations (except for the last one) along with four government institutions form a policy-making forum called the “Consejo Salvadoreño del Cafe” (Salvadorian Coffee Council). The Consejo is also engaged in coffee promotion, statistics gathering and international cooperation.