Coffee prices in PR set to rise up to 20% as new DACO order takes effect
By THE STAR STAFF
Consumers in Puerto Rico will begin paying higher prices for packaged coffee starting this Friday, following the implementation of a new price order issued by the Department of Consumer Affairs (DACO) aimed at increasing minimum prices across the island’s coffee production chain.
The increases are expected to range between 15% and 20%, translating into an additional 80 cents to $1 per 14-ounce bag of coffee sold at retail stores. A package that previously sold for about $5 could rise to around $6 under the new pricing structure.
The price adjustments stem from DACO’s Order No. 2026-007, approved on Oct. 2, which raises minimum prices for locally produced coffee at multiple stages of production while also increasing the regulated price of imported coffee. Imported beans account for an estimated 80% to 85% of the coffee used in most brands sold in Puerto Rico, with locally grown coffee typically representing only 15% to 20% of the final product.
Among the changes, the minimum price paid to farmers for ripe coffee beans will increase from $18 to $22 per “almud” (20 liters), while the price of first-grade parchment coffee will rise from $488 to $596 per hundredweight, or “quintal” (100 kilograms or about 220.5 pounds). First-grade green coffee, known as “pilado primera,” will increase from $500 to $610 per quintal.
The order also raises the price of imported semi-roasted coffee purchased through the Agricultural Enterprises Development Administration (ADEA). Arabica coffee will increase from $375 to $450 per quintal, while robusta coffee will rise to $307.20 per quintal.
Industry officials have said the adjustments are intended to reflect higher production costs and provide greater compensation throughout the coffee supply chain, from growers and processors to distributors. However, the measure will also result in higher costs for consumers as coffee remains a staple in Puerto Rican households.
The changes represent one of the most significant revisions to Puerto Rico’s regulated coffee pricing structure in years and are expected to affect virtually every major coffee brand sold on the island.
