Coffee and global competitiveness: a comparative analysis of Brazil, Colombia and Peru through Porter's Diamond

Coffee is one of the main agricultural commodities in international trade and plays a central role in the economies of Brazil, Colombia and Peru, although the three countries follow distinct competitive paths. This study aims to analyze the determinants of the international competitiveness of coffee in these countries through Porter's Diamond, incorporating the environmental dimension represented by climate change, pests and sustainability requirements. To this end, a descriptive and exploratory study with a mixed-methods approach was carried out, based on secondary data from 2013 to 2024 (Cecafé, Federación Nacional de Cafeteros, International Trade Centre, International Coffee Organization and USDA), with the calculation of growth rates and unit export values, combined with content analysis of sector reports and the literature, organized according to the six dimensions of the model. Brazil leads in volume (2.12 million tonnes exported in 2023), supported by advanced factors, scale and strong domestic demand, but obtains a lower unit value (US$ 3.47/kg) than Colombia (US$ 4.93/kg), whose advantage stems from the differentiation institutionalized by the Federación Nacional de Cafeteros. Peru (US$ 4.05/kg) competes in organic and certified niches, but with unstable volumes, affected by leaf rust and by credit and logistics constraints. It is concluded that the three nations build advantages through different paths and that adaptation to climate risk and to new environmental market-access rules is likely to be the main test of their competitiveness in the coming decade.