Brazilian coffee exports break record of 3,96 million bags in January

Brazil exported 3,961 million 60 kg bags of coffee in January 2024, a volume that represents a historic record for the first month of each year and implies growth of 39% compared to the same period last year. Foreign exchange revenue increased 30,4% in this comparative period, jumping from US$615,5 million to the current US$802,5 million. The data is part of the monthly statistical report of the Brazilian Coffee Exporters Council (Cecafé).

In January this year, shipments abroad of the canephora species (conilon and robusta varieties), the second most exported, showed a substantial increase of 503,5%, boosting the good overall performance by reaching 457.787 bags, which represents 11,56% of the total. The leadership continues with Arabica coffee, with 3,208 million bags and a representation of 80,98%. The list is completed by products from the soluble segment, with 293.467 bags (7,41%), and from the roasted and roasted and ground sector, with 1.898 bags (0,05%).

The president of Cecafé, Márcio Ferreira, comments that the performance of Brazilian coffee exports in January was good, especially given the global scenario of geopolitical conflicts, which have impacted ship traffic in the Red Sea; the strong drought in the Panama Canal region, reducing the flow of vessels; and the continuity of logistical bottlenecks in Brazil.

"So far, we have not had a concrete impact on coffee shipments from Brazil, but we are aware that, if the attacks on the link between North Africa and the Middle East continue, as well as the lack of rain in Central America, there will certainly be an increase in freight costs or the shortage of vessels could further complicate the scenario in Brazil, where exporters have already been faced with rising costs due to constant delays and changes in ship calls and short periods of gate openings", he analyzes.

According to the Detention Zero Bulletin (DTZ), prepared by the technology startup in the logistics segment ElloX Digital, in partnership with Cecafé, the rate of change of calls and delays of ships with coffee in the Port of Santos, for example, reached 85 % in January 2024, the highest percentage recorded so far, worsening the already critical scenario, which had reached its highest percentages in the last three months of 2023: 76% in October and December and 81% in November.

“This problem has been spreading since last year, when cyclones and tropical storms occurred in the Southern Region of Brazil and directed vessels from southern ports to other destinations, such as Santos, which generated an accumulation of cargo in other Brazilian port complexes. As a result, coffee exporters have faced regular postponements of shipments and short gate opening times due to the yards being full of containers, which makes it difficult to receive other cargo due to physical space limitations at the Santos terminal", he reveals.

Despite logistical bottlenecks and infrastructure problems, Ferreira highlights the growth of the country's coffee exports, driven mainly by the performance of canephoras.

"Brazilian Robusta and Conilon remain very competitive on the world market and have been making up for the deficit caused by crop failures in important producers, such as Vietnam and Indonesia, the world's first and third largest producers of the variety, respectively. No wonder, the Vietnamese have increased by 700% and the Indonesians by 19.130% their imports of Brazilian coffee", he explains.

main destinations

The positive performance of Brazilian shipments is also due to the fact that the product's main trading partners increased their purchases last month.

"At this time of year, we are experiencing winter in the Northern Hemisphere and coffee consumption is increasing. This aspect, in line with a reduction in the level of coffee stocks at the top of the globe, naturally causes large consumers to import more coffee from producing origins", comments the president of Cecafé.

Last month, Germany took the lead in the ranking of the main coffee destinations in Brazil, importing 695.607 bags, which implies growth of 57,4% compared to January 2023 and is equivalent to 17,6% of total exports.

The United States, with a representation of 17,2%, purchased 682.952 bags (+31,3%) and occupied second place in the table. Next comes Belgium, with the purchase of 400.065 bags (+123,5%); Japan, with 217.584 bags (+50,1%); and Italy, with 197.846 bags (+1,7%).

China is consolidating itself as one of the main coffee partners in Brazil and maintains sixth place in the ranking, a position it assumed at the end of last year. In January this year, the Asian giant imported 168.761 bags, increasing the volume it acquired in the first month of 153,9 by 2023%.

Closing the top 10 are the Netherlands (Netherlands), with 148.754 bags (+77,7%); Mexico, with 148.559 bags (+1.222,2%); Sweden, with 92.241 bags (+83%); and Canada, with 76.641 bags (+90,1%).

With the increase in imports of coffee from Brazil by nations in the Northern Hemisphere, there is also an increase in shipments of the product to the continents at the top of the planet. Europe, which absorbed 52,1% of national exports in January, acquired 2,062 million bags (+38,1%); North America imported 908.152 bags (+58,8%), equivalent to 22,9% of the total; and Asia, with a share of 18,8%, increased its purchases by 51,3%, totaling 744.055 bags.

differentiated coffees

Coffees that have superior quality or certified sustainable practices accounted for 19,8% of total Brazilian exports of the product in January 2024, with 783.611 bags shipped abroad. This volume represents an increase of 39% compared to that recorded in the first month of 2023.

The average price of the product was US$226,10 per bag, generating foreign exchange revenue of US$177,2 million, which corresponds to 22,1% of that obtained with total coffee shipments in January. In the annual comparison, the value is 20,3% higher than that recorded in the same period last year.

In the ranking of the main destinations for differentiated coffees in January 2024, the USA came in first place, with the acquisition of 212.784 bags, equivalent to 27,2% of the total of this type of product exported.

Closing the top 5 are Germany, with 172.632 bags and a representation of 22%; Belgium, with 83.947 bags (10,7%); Netherlands (Netherlands), with 51.031 bags (6,5%); and Sweden, with 44.646 bags (5,7%).

Ports

The Port of Santos (SP), despite the aforementioned bottlenecks, was the main exporter of coffee from Brazil in January, with the shipment of 3,026 million bags, which represents 76,4% of the total. Next comes the Rio de Janeiro maritime complex, which accounts for 20,7% of exports, having sent 820.953 bags abroad, and the Port of Paranaguá (PR), with exports of 59.391 bags and a representation of 1,5 %.