20151221

If you’ve been tracking global coffee costs—or sourcing beans from Yunnan—you need hard numbers. What were traders actually paying for arabica futures on December 21, 2015? And what were local farmers in China’s top coffee-growing region earning per pound that same day? These aren’t just market footnotes—they shape everything from roaster margins to cup quality downstream.

On December 21, 2015, C-market arabica futures closed at 117.45 US cents per pound (about 16.77 RMB/kg), down 1.55% from the prior day. Yunnan local fresh cherry fetched 102.742 US cents per pound (around 14.67 RMB/kg). Here’s the full breakdown of prices, ranges, and sources.

Global Coffee Futures: C-Market Close on December 21, 2015

The C-market (NYBOT/NYCE arabica contract) is the global benchmark for commodity-grade coffee. On December 21, 2015, the closing price was 117.45 US cents per pound. That converts to roughly 16.77 RMB per kilogram. The daily trading range was tight: the opening bid was 118.25¢/lb (16.884 RMB/kg), the intraday high hit 119.25¢/lb (17.027 RMB/kg), and the low was 116.8¢/lb (16.677 RMB/kg). Prices fell 1.55% compared to the previous session. All figures come directly from the New York futures exchange.

Yunnan Local Fresh Bean Prices: What Farmers Received

For raw, harvested coffee cherry in Yunnan—the primary growing region in China—local buyers paid 102.742 US cents per pound on December 21, 2015. That equates to approximately 14.67 RMB per kilogram. This figure, reported by Nestlé Yunnan , reflects what growers earned before processing or export, and serves as a critical baseline for understanding domestic supply economics.

Market Context: Why These Numbers Matter

The spread between the C-market futures (117.45¢/lb) and Yunnan cherry prices (102.742¢/lb) highlights the gap between global commodity rates and local green coffee values. For roasters and importers, these numbers influence procurement decisions, contract negotiations, and quality incentives. They also underscore the challenges faced by Yunnan producers competing within a market still largely driven by exchange-traded bulk coffee.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the closing price of C-market coffee futures on December 21, 2015?

The C-market (NYBOT arabica) closed at 117.45 US cents per pound on December 21, 2015, which is approximately 16.77 RMB per kilogram. This was a 1.55% decrease from the previous day’s close.

What did Yunnan coffee farmers earn per pound for fresh cherry that same day?

Yunnan local fresh coffee cherry was purchased for 102.742 US cents per pound (about 14.67 RMB per kilogram) on December 21, 2015. This figure comes from Nestlé Yunnan and reflects the farmgate price for raw cherry.

How do the C-market price and Yunnan cherry price compare?

The C-market futures price (117.45¢/lb) was significantly higher than the Yunnan fresh cherry price (102.742¢/lb) on December 21, 2015, showing a gap of over 14¢ per pound between global commodity rates and local Yunnan grower returns.

Where do these coffee price figures come from?

The C-market price is sourced from the New York futures exchange (NYBOT/NYCE), while the Yunnan cherry price is reported by Nestlé Yunnan . All conversions to RMB/kg are based on the exchange rates implied in the original report.

Why is the difference between futures and local prices important?

The gap between C-market futures and Yunnan cherry prices affects grower incomes, import decisions, and the economics of domestic specialty coffee production. It highlights the challenges of valuing quality in a market still dominated by bulk commodity benchmarks.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Market Reference

Explore FrontStreet Coffee’s Yirgacheffe and Ethiopia Huakui beans to see how premium single origins compare to the 2015 commodity prices. The Yirgacheffe offers bright citrus and floral notes with a juicy body, while the Ethiopia Huakui features stone fruit and bergamot aromas. Both highlight the quality potential far beyond futures-grade coffee. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.