Coffee exports decline due to lower supply and tariffs

Brazil exported 3,750 million 60-kg bags of all types of coffee in September, a decrease of 18,4% compared to the 4,598 million shipped in the same month of 2024. In terms of foreign exchange revenue, the performance is the opposite, with the country receiving 11,1% more in the same comparative period through the inflow of US$1,369 billion. These data are included in the monthly statistical report of the Brazilian Coffee Exporters Council (Cecafé).

In the first three months of the 2025/26 crop year, the performance is similar, with shipments falling 20,6%, to 9,676 million bags, and revenue rising 12%, to US$ 3,521 billion, compared to the volume and value measured between July and the end of September last year.

Civil year

From January to September 2025, the trend continues. Brazil exported 29,105 million bags, representing a 20,5% decline compared to the 36,593 million bags exported in the first nine months of last year. Revenue increased 30% in the same comparison, jumping from US$8,499 billion to the current US$11,049 billion.

"The performance in September, in the harvest, and year-to-date was expected after we exported a record volume of coffee in 2024 and saw product availability decline, with lower stocks in warehouses and the harvest again affected by adverse weather conditions. And, of course, the decline was exacerbated by the 50% tariff increase imposed by US President Donald Trump on Brazilian coffee, which severely impacted shipments to the US, which is the world's largest consumer and the main importer of Brazilian coffee," analyzes Cecafé president Márcio Ferreira.

Last month, the second with the tariffs in effect, the United States reduced its coffee imports from Brazil by 52,8% compared to September 2024, purchasing 332.831 bags. This dropped the United States to third place in the monthly ranking. Germany led the way (654.638 bags) and Italy came in second (334.654 bags), but they also saw declines in purchases, of 16,9% and 23%, respectively.

Faced with the tariff hike, the president of Cecafé states that it is not possible to give up the US market, which remains the leader in Brazilian coffee exports year to date, and that, following favorable signals from President Trump at the United Nations (UN) Assembly and in connection with President Lula, the Brazilian government needs to act quickly.

"The Executive Branch needs to urgently mobilize for the country's benefit. There is no longer any fear of a lack of openness to diplomatic dialogue, and Brazilian exporters, specifically coffee exporters, are already suffering severe impacts during these two months of tariffs, with our American importing partners requesting the postponement or even cancellation of deals due to the high price of the product driven by the tariff hike," he demands.

Ferreira reports that the entity, following the call between the presidents of Brazil and the USA, requested a meeting with the vice president and minister of Development, Industry, Commerce and Services (MDIC), Geraldo Alckmin, who leads the Interministerial Committee for Negotiation and Economic and Commercial Countermeasures, to reinforce the relevance and interdependence of the two countries in coffee.

"We are the largest global producers and exporters, and the United States is the world's largest importer and consumer. We account for more than a third of all coffee traded in the US, where 76% of the population consumes the beverage. We cannot afford to overlook the American market for our coffee, nor can they give up our product, as there is no other supplier that can match our volume and quality. The Brazilian and American private sectors have done and continue to do their homework, so much so that coffee has been included on a list of possible tariff exemptions, but for this to happen, a bilateral trade relationship is necessary. In other words, it is high time to act," he exclaims.

main destinations

The United States, even with the decline caused by taxation, remains the largest buyer of Brazilian coffee in the first nine months of 2025, importing 4,361 million bags, a 24,7% drop compared to the amount purchased between January and September 2024. This volume corresponds to 15% of total shipments for the year as a whole.

Rounding out the list of the top five destinations for Brazilian coffee, between January and the end of September 2025, are Germany, with imports of 3,727 million bags and a 30,5% drop compared to the first nine months of 2024; Italy, with 2,324 million bags (-23,3%); Japan, with 1,891 million bags (+15%); and Belgium, with 1,703 million bags (-48,8%).

Coffee types

In the first nine months of 2025, Arabica coffee remained Brazil's most exported variety, with 23,200 billion bags shipped abroad. This volume represents 79,7% of the total, although it represents a 12,5% ​​drop compared to the same period last year.

The canephora species (conilon + robusta) comes next, with the shipment of 3,062 million bags (10,5% of the total), followed by the soluble coffee segment, with 2,799 million bags (9,6%), and the industrial sector of roasted and roasted and ground coffee, with 43.644 bags (0,1%).

differentiated coffees

Coffees certified for sustainable practices, superior quality, or specialty coffees accounted for 20,3% of total Brazilian exports between January and September 2025, with 5,913 million bags shipped abroad. This volume is 11% lower than the cumulative total for the first nine months of last year.

At an average price of US$425,00 per bag, foreign exchange revenue from shipments of the differentiated product was US$2,513 billion, representing 22,7% of the total shipments from January to September of this year. Compared to the same period in 2024, the figure is 48,6% higher.

The United States leads the ranking of the main destinations for premium coffees, purchasing 987.499 bags in 2025, equivalent to 16,7% of total exports of this type of product. Rounding out the top 5 are Germany, with 825.657 bags and a 14% share; Belgium, with 667.883 bags (11,3%); the Netherlands, with 508.722 bags (8,6%); and Italy, with 387.065 bags (6,5%).

Ports

The Port of Santos remains Brazil's leading coffee exporter in 2025, shipping 23,093 million bags and accounting for 79,3% of the total in the first nine months of the year. Next in line is the Rio de Janeiro port complex, which accounts for 16,9%, sending 4,926 million bags abroad, and the Port of Paranaguá (PR), which exported 279.155 bags and accounts for 1%.