Do not produce coffee beans but do a big coffee business

Chongqing, which does not produce a coffee bean, has started a big coffee business by relying on its unique location advantage at the junction of "One Belt and One Road" and Yangtze River Economic Belt. By the end of the first quarter of 2017, Chongqing Coffee Trading Center has accumulated RMB 5.268 billion in spot coffee trading volume, becoming the largest coffee electronic trading platform in China.

Why build a coffee trading center in Chongqing, which does not produce a coffee bean?

Feng Yue, chairman of Chongqing Energy Group and initiator of the center, said that the opening advantage given by "One Belt and One Road" enables the coffee trading center to closely connect Yunnan, Southeast Asia, South Asia and other major coffee producing areas with European consumer markets with Chongqing as the core, becoming an important distribution center for coffee logistics and forming radiation and agglomeration of global coffee industry.

In fact, this coffee trading center, established in June last year, is a typical example of the transformation and development of energy enterprises and the improvement of Chinese coffee quality with the help of the "Belt and Road" east wind.

From black coal to gray coffee bean business, Chongqing Energy Group is interested in the huge market and development potential of coffee industry. In recent years, domestic coffee consumption has maintained an average annual growth rate of more than 20%, and the coffee consumption market is expected to grow from the current 100 billion yuan to more than 600 billion yuan in 10 years.

At the same time, the promotion of the construction of "One Belt and One Road" highlights Chongqing's position as a hub and channel connecting Asia and Europe. It is estimated that coffee transportation from Chongqing to Duisburg, Germany, takes only 13 days, saving 30 days compared with river-sea combined transportation and 4/5 cheaper than air transportation.

Yunnan coffee accounts for 99% of China's coffee production. Although more than 60% of Yunnan coffee is sold overseas, it is mainly low-value primary coffee beans." Peng De, general manager of Chongqing Coffee Trading Center, said that the quality of domestic coffee is not very high at present, mainly because coffee cultivation is not paid attention to, the market development degree is not high, and there is no right to speak in pricing.

It is not impossible for Yunnan coffee to sell well in the international market. Jiang Nianbao, executive director of Man Coffee, said Yunnan is a good place to grow coffee regardless of altitude, humidity and temperature.

"But at present, Yunnan coffee is still insufficient in planting technology, and there is no professional organization to do quality evaluation, so many coffee shops dare not use Yunnan coffee." It is believed that the coffee trading center will help improve the planting technology of Yunnan coffee and provide support in the industrial chain, circulation chain, personnel training, finance, logistics and other aspects. The potential will be great." Jiang Nianbao said.

In the product display hall of the trading center, several Chinese coffee evaluators certified by the International Specialty Coffee Association are evaluating the aroma, flavor, acidity, consistency and cleanliness of coffee beans from Yunnan, Laos and Indonesia by smelling dry and wet fragrance and sipping.

"In the past two years, China has begun to attach importance to talent training in coffee planting, evaluation, marketing and other aspects, which is good for expanding coffee business and spreading coffee culture." Chongqing Dianshuo coffee company director Xu Junping said.

The "Coffee Bulk Trade Standard Inspection System" led by Chongqing Coffee Trading Center has been implemented in the middle of the coffee harvest season in 2017, striving to become a national standard. In addition, the Center publishes coffee trading reference prices every day, and strives to bring international market trends and customer demands to local coffee growers in Yunnan as soon as possible through information services, so as to improve the quality of domestic coffee.

"We will promote the development of coffee industry to the terminal market and the high end of the industrial chain, and strive to make domestic coffee not only occupy the dominant position in the domestic market, but also sell at a good price in the international market." Pender said.