"unsalable" Pu'er coffee beans

One day in January, one hell in January. In April, the Yunnan coffee industry, which was shrouded by rumors of "unsalable coffee beans", once caused panic among farmers and the industry. However, statistics by the end of April showed that there were only 3000-4000 tons of Pu'er left in the main producing areas, including some coffee beans of poor quality.

The supply of really good quality coffee beans is still in short supply. Behind the "unsalable" coffee beans, the quality problem is even more worrying.

Due to the fall in prices in the later period, it was the middlemen who suffered the heaviest losses in the coffee storm this year, while direct growers still benefited.

Due to the impact of the increase in coffee production in Brazil this year, the balance between supply and demand has changed, and it is normal for international coffee prices to go high and low. However, with the transfer of rural labor and higher planting costs, coffee bean prices are likely to remain high in the future.

Under the beautiful Pu'er coffee tree, in April, the least beautiful story is the rumor that "coffee beans are unsalable".

Liu Minghui, founder and chairman of Yunnan Aixing Group, who is known as the "coffee madman".

Throughout April, the coffee industry in Yunnan was shrouded in rumors of "unsalable coffee beans", which once caused panic among farmers and the industry. Just a month ago, the coffee industry in Yunnan was concerned by Starbucks, Nestl é and some hot money like a darling. One day in January, one hell in January. At the end of April, when the reporter was visiting Pu'er City, a staff member of the Pu'er Coffee Office also received a phone call from a friend asking whether the coffee beans this year were unsalable and what would happen next year. That friend just planted 500 mu of coffee trees last year.

On April 12, the Yunnan Coffee Industry Association reported the investigation of the main coffee producing areas in Yunnan. According to the survey, Yunnan produced 50, 000 tons of coffee beans in 2011 and is expected to reach 60, 000 tons this year, but prices have fallen by nearly 1/3. According to preliminary statistics, at present, more than 20,000 tons of coffee beans have not yet been acquired in major coffee producing areas such as Pu'er, Baoshan and Banna. However, in the Pu'er producing area, Gao Yingmin, a staff member of the Pu'er coffee office, told reporters: "at present, there are still 3000 to 4000 tons left, including some coffee beans of poor quality." What's wrong with Pu'er coffee?

"good coffee is still in short supply."

Generally speaking, the biggest feature of unsalable is that the price is equal to or lower than the cost. At present, the purchase price of coffee beans in Pu'er City is maintained at about 20 yuan / kg. The survey data of Yunnan Coffee Industry Association show that the current production cost of coffee cultivation in Yunnan is 13-15 yuan per kilogram. When the purchase price is more than 15 yuan / kg, coffee growers still have a certain profit margin.

At present, several coffee companies acquired locally in Pu'er are still receiving coffee beans from farmers uninterruptedly. Nestl é, the largest buyer in Pu'er, said in a reply to our reporter that "in 2012, Nestl é further increased its purchase volume after exceeding this year's coffee bean purchase plan, with a total purchase volume of about 10,000 tons this year." It is understood that Nestl é has increased its purchase volume by 2000 tons on the basis of last year's purchase volume, and plans to continue to expand its purchase volume in the next five years.

Liu Minghui, founder and chairman of Yunnan Aiyi Group, also said on his Weibo that he would buy coffee beans of high quality from Yunnan farmers at a high price as rumors spread that they were unsalable as a raw material supplier. Liu Minghui said in an interview with our reporter: "if there are still 10,000 tons of coffee beans on the market, it still can not meet the orders of Aiwei in Europe, America and Canada, but it is very difficult to buy good coffee beans at present."

Behind the "unsalable" coffee beans, the quality problem is even more worrying.

The supply of really good quality coffee beans is still in short supply. Liu Minghui said. Li Gongqin, deputy secretary general of the Yunnan Coffee Industry Association, also believes that due to a decade of rising prices, both good and poor coffee beans can be sold, causing farmers and enterprises to ignore quality control and gatekeeping.

"it is the middleman who has lost the most."

It is understood that the purchase prices of coffee beans in Yunnan market are set according to the New York coffee futures trading price, also as small-grain coffee, its price follows the price trend of Colombian coffee beans.

According to the International Coffee Organization's website, the price of Colombian coffee beans fell to its lowest level since 2000 in 2003, with an annual average of 48.34 cents per pound. Prices began to rise after 2003 and reached an all-time high of 244.64 cents per pound in 2011.

Liu Minghui believes that the normal price of coffee should be kept at 150 cents / pound. Coffee production was once low a few years ago, and coffee reserves were consumed more from 2009 to 2010. In 2011, in order to fill the reserves, the increase in demand for coffee beans led to a rise in prices. In addition, in 2011, Brazil, an important coffee producing area, experienced a climatic year, which led to a reduction in coffee bean production to 43 million bags (60 kg / bag). In 2012, when the climate was big in Brazil, coffee beans increased by 15 million bags and 58 million bags for the whole year, reaching an all-time high.

It is rare in the history of a big bull market in the international price of coffee last year. In April last year, the price of coffee reached its peak in nearly 30 years, and the spot transaction price in Yunnan market reached 41 yuan / kg. By contrast, the current price of coffee beans has almost halved. This year, most farmers mistakenly thought that the price trend would be the same as last year, selling coffee beans at the time when they should be sold, but did not wait until the expected price rise.

On the other hand, some middlemen hoarded a lot of coffee beans in the process. It is understood that from September to December last year, the purchase price of coffee beans was 25-30 yuan / kg, while the purchase price of berries by the middleman at that time had already reached 4-5 yuan / kg, according to the proportion that 7 kilograms of coffee berries could produce 1 kilogram of coffee rice. at that time, the cost price of coffee rice had already reached 28-35 yuan / kg. "due to the fall in prices in the later period, it is the middlemen who have suffered the heaviest losses in the coffee storm this year, while farmers who grow directly are still benefiting." Liu Minghui said. In the interview, several industry insiders also confirmed his statement.

Moreover, due to the limited storage conditions, coupled with the lack of timely processing, the hoarded coffee beans become moldy. What's more, last year's high prices made some farmers and exporters only pursue immediate profits, mixing grade 2 and grade 3 coffee defective products with grade 1 beans, resulting in poor quality of coffee beans.

"under the influence of the increase in coffee production in Brazil this year, the balance between supply and demand has changed, and it is normal for international coffee prices to go high and low. The market is rapidly changing, but with the transfer of rural labor and higher planting costs, it is unlikely that the price of coffee beans will fall to 120 cents / pound in the future, and prices are likely to remain high. " When it comes to the future trend of coffee prices, Liu Minghui said.

Coffee man

Coffee saints on the plateau

Starting from Pu'er City District, drive to the depths of the jungle, along the "twists and turns" mountain road, after about two hours to reach a village called Manzhongtian, more than 100 kilometers from the national boundary, there is a kind of coffee beans of quality close to the Blue Mountains, which is used by the world giant Starbucks as a raw material supply base. The owner of this Manzhongtian Coffee Manor is an authentic lover, his name is Liu Minghui, and he is also an authentic "Chinese cowboy".

Liu Minghui, with dark skin, strong and sturdy, always wears a T-shirt and jeans, even when he meets with the global president of Starbucks, who appreciates his frankness and equanimity.

In 1993, Liu Minghui resigned from the government and set up a hotel with ethnic customs-Aili Villa on Dianchi Road. Today, he owns six restaurants, two coffee plantations, two coffee processing plants, four ranches and a beef slaughtering and processing plant. Since 1997, Liu Minghui has been in the United States, where he sells Chinese coffee. In a sense, Yunnan coffee to the world, Liu Minghui is one of the nodes that can not be ignored.

Liu Minghui's image in the media always wears his iconic western cowboy hat. He defines himself as a "cowboy". He labels himself as a coffee man. "Love", he says, exists because he loves you.

When it comes to coffee, Liu Minghui seems to have been activated, eloquent, emotional, and even uninterrupted. Hearty laughter and passionate emotions are particularly penetrating, and the person next to you will be instantly infected. Liu Minghui was angry at the decline in the quality of Pu'er coffee caused by the adulteration of some farmers. "that is tantamount to chronic suicide," he said. "No one can lie forever." He is such a man with a "cowboy character".

"people who come into contact with me will like me very much," he said. " Frankness reveals the loveliness of a middle-aged man. He has a nickname "Coffee Crazy", but he is not taboo about it, but enjoys talking about it. Most of his team are young returnees, they follow their heart, and they decide to follow him because they appreciate him.

Liu Minghui, 47, is also an out-and-out Weibo user. He is active on Weibo to communicate with so many fans about coffee every day that he even sells coffee on Weibo. Liu Minghui may be the first chairman to sell coffee on Weibo. He labeled himself "Travel, Freedom, Movie" on Weibo. In reality, he advocates freedom and likes to travel around the world. It is precisely because of this that a coffee saint brings Yunnan coffee to the world.

Our reporter Zheng Lihong trainee reporter Fang Yan / text page Photo: our reporter Li Jinhong / photo

China Coffee Trading Network: www.gafei.com