Production and exports of major coffee producing countries in Latin America

Prices in the international coffee market have rebounded since last year after a decade-long downturn, which has significantly increased the export earnings of Latin American coffee-producing countries. The following is the current coffee production and export situation of the major coffee producing countries in Latin America.

Brazil is the world's largest coffee producer and exporter and the world's second largest coffee consumer after the United States. According to the latest forecast of the Brazilian National Coffee supply Company, Brazil's coffee production this year was 41.6 million bags (60 kg each), an increase of 26.2 per cent over the 32.94 million bags in the previous year. At present, the annual consumption of coffee in Brazil is about 16 million bags. According to statistics from the Brazilian Coffee exporters Council, from January to September this year, Brazil exported 18.72 million bags of coffee, a decrease of 3.8 percent from 19.45 million bags in the same period last year, but coffee export revenue increased from US $2.145 billion in the same period last year to US $2.235 billion, an increase of 14.2%. From January to August this year, Brazil's average export price per bag of coffee was US $119.5, compared with US $109.6 in the same period last year, according to the Council.

Colombia is the world's third largest coffee producer and exporter (Vietnam ranks second). According to the Colombian National Federation of Coffee producers, Colombia's coffee production this year will be 12 million bags (60 kg each), and the annual coffee export revenue is expected to reach 1.74 billion US dollars. Last year, Colombia produced 11.88 million bags of coffee and exported 10.81 million bags of coffee. Colombian coffee is of good quality and pure taste, and is very popular in the international coffee market. According to statistics, as of September this year, the average export price of Colombian coffee was 1.14 US dollars per pound.

Guatemala is the fifth largest coffee producer and exporter in the world (Indonesia ranks fourth). According to the Guatemala National Coffee Association, the country's coffee exports this year (November 1, 2005 to October 30, 2006) were 3.5 million bags (an average of 60 kg each), a decrease of 1 million bags compared with the previous year.