The United States Department of Agriculture has released its forecast overview for the global coffee markets, predicting that European consumption will rise slightly, to 44.8 million bags, over the coming year.
The US government body reported that the EU accounts for over 40% of the world’s coffee-bean imports, but this is forecast to dip slightly, to 46.5 million bags.
It revealed that the top suppliers to the EU are Brazil (27%), Colombia (20%) and Vietnam (16%).
Global Predictions
On a global scale, coffee production is forecast at 159 million bags of 60 kilograms, unchanged from the previous year.
The USDA said, "Lower output in Brazil is offset by higher production in Vietnam, Mexico and Indonesia, as well as slight increases in most other countries."
Exports of green coffee are expected to remain steady, totalling 111 million bags.
Global consumption is forecast at a record 158 million bags, meaning that inventories are expected to slip to 34 million bags after being higher over the previous five years.
The top producer of coffee beans in the world, Brazil, is forecast to fall by up to 5.1 million bags.
The report read, ‘Coffee trees in top-growing regions Southern Minas Gerais and São Paulo have shown excellent vegetative development and vigour, and growers have intensified crop management, particularly pruning. Also, adequate rainfall has supported fruit development and filling.
‘However, production potential is expected to drop compared to the previous season, since a majority of trees are in the off-year of the biennial production cycle.’
© 2017 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Aidan O’Sullivan. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
