Brazilian coffee exports total 2,7 million bags in April 2023

According to the statistical report from the Brazilian Coffee Exporters Council (Cecafé), national shipments of the product totaled 2,722 million 60 kg bags in April, a volume that implies a drop of 10,3% compared to the 3,034 million registered in the same month of 2022. With an average price of US$222,08 per bag, foreign exchange revenue was US$604,5 million, decreasing 16,9% in the same comparative interval.

In the first 10 months of the 2022/23 harvest year, Brazil's coffee shipments abroad totaled 30,495 million bags, which generated US$6,993 billion for the country. The performance represents a 9,1% decline in volume, but a 4,6% increase in revenue compared to numbers measured between July 2021 and April of last year.

Civil year

From January to the end of April 2023, Brazil exported 11,097 million bags, showing a drop of 19,9% ​​compared to the 13,857 million bags accumulated in the first four months of last year. In terms of values, the decline is 25%, with current shipments having yielded US$ 2,405 billion, compared to US$ 3,206 billion in the same previous period.

The president of Cecafé, Márcio Ferreira, points out that, despite the negative performance so far, overall, the future prospects are good.

“In the physical market, there has been an increase in liquidity in current harvest Arabica offers from producers, who, obviously, are already preparing for the harvest”, he analyzes.

He mentions that buyers, who postponed their purchases as much as possible, have shown greater interest, especially in these current season coffees, which could result in better volumes for shipments in May and June.

“For the new harvest, we also see positive expectations, given the good conditions of the crops and the buying interest on the part of importing countries”, he adds.

As for Brazilian Robusta and Conilon coffees, favored by the substantial rise on the London Stock Exchange and consecutive years of harvests with good production, Ferreira notes that they have achieved price differentials close to those in Vietnam.

“This scenario could, after a long period, allow an increase in business with the foreign market and, consequently, increase the volume of exports of the variety”, he comments.

According to the president of Cecafé, for both arabica and conilon, the less valued dollar compared to the real has a negative impact on prices in reais, but, even so, the entire market situation is favorable.

“We are approaching the winter period, which, obviously, requires greater caution from all players. However, it seems that without the occurrence of climatic accidents, we are heading towards a recovery in arabica production, which has been so affected in the last two years”, he projects.

Furthermore, Ferreira mentions that, although inverted until the Dec/23 expiration date, the New York Stock Exchange indicates that it is beginning to enter, albeit slowly, a positive scenario from the Mar/24 contract onwards, which is favorable for trading in general.

“If this direction is confirmed, it should enable, in a few more months, better remuneration for the producer in sales for future deliveries”, he analyzes.

Concluding, he argues that, by serving the most diverse and demanding markets, with organization and efficiency, the export sector provides competitive liquidity for the Brazilian harvest.

“According to the IPEP-Arábica and IPEP-Conilon indices calculated by Cecafé, Brazil is the record holder in price transfer (Free on Board) FOB from export to the producer, which means sustainable income and a dignified life in the national coffee industry”, he concludes.

main destinations

In the first four months of 2023, the United States remains the main importer of coffee from Brazil, purchasing 2,051 million bags, a volume 19,2% lower than that recorded in the same period of 2022. This amount is equivalent to 18,5% of total Brazilian shipments in the break.

Germany, with a representation of 12,9%, purchased 1,430 million bags (-46,5%) and occupied second place in the ranking. Next comes Italy, with imports of 924.788 bags (-22,7%); Japan, with 646.092 bags (stable); Belgium, with 555.074 bags (-61,2%); and Colombia, with the acquisition of 434.632 bags (-1,9%).

From seventh to 10th placed among the main destinations, the scenario changes, with these nations increasing their purchases of coffee from Brazil. Turkey purchased 354.302 bags, increasing its purchases by 31,8% compared to the first four months of 2022, followed by the Netherlands, with 345.574 bags (+45,9%); France, with 313.013 bags (+16%); and Argentina, with 309.000 bags (+46,5%).

Portos

The Santos maritime complex (SP) remains the main exporter of coffee from Brazil between January and April 2023, with 8,626 million bags shipped abroad, which is equivalent to 77,7% of the total. Next come the ports of Rio de Janeiro, which account for 17,2% of shipments, sending 1,910 million bags, and Paranaguá (PR), with exports of 156.699 bags and representing 1,4%.

Coffee types

Arabica coffee was the most exported between January and the end of April this year, with 9,451 million bags sent abroad, which corresponds to 85,2% of the total. The soluble segment had the equivalent of 1,239 million bags shipped, representing 11,2%, followed by the canephora variety (robusta + conilon), with 393.976 bags (3,5%) and the roasted and roasted and ground product, with 13.128 bags (0,1%).

differentiated coffees

Coffees that have superior quality or certificates of sustainable practices accounted for 18,4% of total Brazilian exports of the product in the first four months of 2023, with 2,041 million bags sent abroad. This volume represents an increase of 2,1% compared to the same period of the previous year.

The average price of this product was US$247,56 per bag, providing revenue of US$505,3 million in the four months, which corresponds to 21% of that obtained from total shipments. In the annual comparison, the value is 18,6% lower than that measured in the first four months of 2022.

In the ranking of the main destinations for differentiated coffees during the first four months of this year, the United States is at the top, with the acquisition of 597.167 bags, equivalent to 29,3% of the total of this type of product exported. Closing the top 5 is Germany, with 280.181 bags and a representation of 13,7%; Belgium, with 215.384 bags (10,6%); Italy, with 96.662 bags (4,7%); and Holland (Netherlands), with 95.714 bags (4,7%).