SAN JOSE: Costa Rican coffee exports topped 1.134 million bags in the harvesting season that ended last month, up 6.7% compared to the previous cycle, data from national coffee institute ICAFE showed on Wednesday.

Coffee exports in September, the last month of the 2019/2020 season, more than doubled from the same month last year to reach 56,448 60-km bags.

Costa Rican, one of Central America's smaller producers but known for its high quality beans, saw export growth despite labor market and price fluctuations intensified in recent months by the pandemic.

"It's really good that this year has played out like this with all the market alterations," said ICAFE executive director Xinia Chaves.

The record foreign sales last season foreshadow what officials see as bumper crop during 2020/2021 season, which began this month, reaching 1.6 million bags, which would mark 8.2% growth compared to last season.

While ICAFE has not estimated 2020/2021 exports, Costa Rica typically ships around 80% of its coffee crop.

Rising production is expected despite pandemic containment measures that have restricted entry of Nicaraguan and Panamanian farm workers. Sector leaders say plantations are expected to have enough laborers in November and December, the busiest months of the harvest.

The coffee season in Central America and Mexico, which together produce about a fifth of the world's arabica beans, runs from October through September.