USA imports 18,2% of total bags of coffee exported in the first quarter of 2019

Brazilian Coffee exports, in the first quarter of 2019, reached 9,97 million bags and foreign exchange revenue of US$1,30 billion, with the average price of a 60kg bag at US$131,08. Of this total volume exported, 8,58 million bags were of Arabica coffee, 529,89 thousand bags of Robusta coffee, 845,15 thousand bags of soluble coffee and only 3,13 thousand bags of 60kg of roasted and ground coffee. Despite there being a significant increase in export volume of 25,7% in this first quarter of 2019, compared to the same period in 2018, the average price obtained per bag represented a decrease of 18,2%.

Based on the performance object of this analysis of coffee exports in the first quarter of 2019, it can be estimated that if such numbers are extrapolated to the current calendar year, sales of Cafés do Brasil abroad could reach a historical record of 40 million 60kg bags this year. However, specifically in relation to the performance of the first quarter, it appears that the ranking of the ten main destinations for Brazilian Coffees were, in first place, the United States with the import of 1,8 million bags of coffee (18,2 %), in second comes Germany with 1,7 million bags (17,2%), and, in third, Italy, with 1 million bags (10,5%).

Next, in fourth place, is Japan with 760 thousand bags imported (7,6%), in fifth, Belgium with 544 thousand bags (5,5%), in sixth place, Turkey with 339 thousand bags (3,4 %), United Kingdom, in seventh, with 317 thousand bags (3,2%), Russian Federation, in eighth, with 260 thousand bags (2,6%), France, in ninth, with 237 thousand bags (2,4 %) and, in tenth, Canada, with 215 thousand bags (2,2%). It is also worth highlighting that, if the performance of the first quarter of this year is compared with the same period last year, it appears that Brazilian coffee exports showed growth in terms of volume in the main destinations. Among the ten countries mentioned, it is noteworthy that the three that showed the greatest growth in imports were the United Kingdom (59%), Turkey (48%) and the United States (36%).

The data and figures that allow us to carry out these analyses, among others, of the performance of coffee farming at a global level were obtained from the Monthly report March 2019, from the Brazilian Coffee Exporters Council - Cecafe, which is available in full on Coffee Observatory of the Café Research Consortium, coordinated by Embrapa Coffee.

According to the aforementioned Report, in relation to exports of differentiated coffees, which have superior quality or some type of certificate of sustainable practices, also in the first quarter of this year, Brazil exported 1,8 million 60kg bags, at the average price of US$ 166,02 per 60kg bag, a volume that represents 18,8% of the total number of Brazilian coffee exported to different destinations. It is worth noting that the average price of exported differentiated coffees was 38,3% higher than the average price of natural/medium green coffees, which was US$120,05 per 60kg bag.

In the specific case of differentiated coffees, foreign exchange revenue was US$312 million, which is equivalent to 23,9% of the total value obtained from these exports. The main destinations for differentiated coffees were the USA, with 428 thousand bags (22,8% of the total exported in the quarter), followed by Germany, with 261 thousand bags (13,9%) and Japan, with 242 thousand bags (12,9 .184%). Next comes Belgium, with 9,8 thousand bags (151%); Italy, with 8 thousand bags (80%); Canada, with 4,3 thousand bags (60%); Sweden, with 3,2 thousand bags (55%); United Kingdom, with 2,9 thousand bags (37%); Netherlands, with 2 thousand bags (33%) and South Korea, with 1,8 thousand bags (XNUMX%).