Global coffee exports rose by 5% in 2016/17

Total coffee exports worldwide in September 2017 reached 8.34 million bags, compared to 9.79 million in September 2016. While coffee year 2016/17 registered a decrease in its final month, total exports reached a record 122.45 million bags, 4.8% greater than the 116.89 million bags shipped in coffee year 2015/16. Export trends in coffee year 2016/17 broadly matched trends for coffee production with shipments of all three Arabica groups increasing. Exports of Colombian Milds grew by 8% to 14.66 million bags, Other Milds by 15.6% to 27.02 million bags, and Brazilian Naturals by 2.6% to 35.84 million bags. While production of Robusta coffee declined greatly in crop year 2016/17, shipments were relatively stable, amounting to 44.93 million bags. Out of the ten largest exporters in coffee year 2016/17, only Brazil and Vietnam registered decreases compared to shipments in coffee year 2015/16.

 

Crop year 2017/18 is now in progress in all exporting countries. On the basis of new information from Member countries, the estimate of total production for crop year 2016/17 has been revised upwards to 157.44 million bags, a 3.4% increase on 2015/16. Arabica production is up by 14.7% to 101.55 million bags, with increases observed for all three Arabica groups. Production of Colombian Milds rose by 2.7% to 15.82 million bags, Other Milds by 15.6% to 30.29 million bags and Brazilian Naturals by 18.1% to 55.44 million bags. However, Robusta production is estimated down 12.2% to 55.89 million bags. Coffee production increased in Africa, Mexico & Central America and South America by 5.3%, 16.3% and 8.6%, respectively while production decreased by 9% in Asia for crop year 2016/17. The significant increase in production in Mexico & Central America is largely attributed to increased production in Honduras, the recovery from the coffee leaf rust outbreak in the region and beneficial weather.

 

While Brazil’s exports declined by 8.8% to 31.58 million bags in coffee year 2016/17, its production increased by 9.2% to 55 million bags in crop year 2016/17. Compared to coffee year 2015/16, preliminary figures for exports of green and soluble coffee from Brazil suggest that exports of both forms of coffee fell by 8.8% in coffee year 2016/17 to 28.13 million bags and 3.43 million bags, respectively. Shipments of roasted coffee are also estimated to have declined, but accounted for less than 1% of total exports.
 

Exports from Vietnam have grown by 5.5% per annum in the last 15 years, though often with alternating years of growth and contraction. Total exports in coffee year 2016/17 are estimated to have decreased by 6.4% to 24.76 million bags following a year of record exports but this is still the third highest volume on record. Shipments of green coffee are estimated to have decreased by 12% to 22.79 million bags, and accounted for 92% of total exports in coffee year 2016/17. However, estimated exports of soluble coffee more than tripled to 1.97 million bags. Vietnam’s production for crop year 2016/17 is estimated at 25.5 million bags, down 11.3% compared to last year, and the lowest volume of production since crop year 2012/13.
 

In crop year 2016/17, Colombia is currently estimated to have produced 14.5 million bags, up 3.5% on 2015/16, and is the fifth consecutive season of growth. Increases in exports have followed the same pattern as production, aside from 2015/16 when a strike at the ports hindered shipments. Colombia’s total shipments increased by 9.6% to 13.49 million bags as gains in production have provided ample supplies. Green coffee exports, which account for 93% of total exports, have increased to 12.57 million bags. Shipments of soluble coffee have increased to 0.77 million bags, representing 6% of total shipments in coffee year 2016/17.

 

 

Indonesia’s exports of coffee increased from 6.12 million bags in coffee year 2015/16 to 11.1 million bags in coffee year 2016/17. Preliminary figures suggest that green coffee exports, which represent around 72% of total exports, rose by 32.6% to 8 million bags.
 

Exports of green coffee from Honduras rose by 41.8% to a record 7.29 million bags in coffee year 2016/17. This represents the third consecutive season of growth and makes Honduras the fifth largest exporter in coffee year 2016/17. Beneficial weather and improved yields, resulting in part from tree renewal projects, have contributed to the boost in production and exports.
 

After increasing for two consecutive years, world coffee consumption is estimated to have remained stable at 155.06 million bags, based on provisional figures for coffee year 2016/17. Given the rise in global coffee output against stable consumption, coffee year 2016/17 is now seen in surplus after two consecutive years of deficit, with production exceeding consumption by 2.38 million bags. The market is well supplied at the start of coffee year 2017/18 by the replenishment of stocks over this past year. 

 

 

Total exports by exporting countries

In thousand bags