Production and export of coffee in Latin America

Guatemala is the fifth largest coffee producer and exporter in the world (Indonesia ranks fourth). According to the Guatemalan National Coffee Association, the country exported 3.5 million bags of coffee this year (from 1 November 2005 to 30 October 2006). There are 1 million bags less than the previous year. Colombia is the third largest coffee producer and exporter in the world (Viet Nam 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. 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.