Many of the world’s coffee traders are now running on fumes. After a decade of relatively benign markets, the past five years have been a blur of price shocks, shipping snarls, rising labour costs, and now the extra burden of US tariffs. Smaller exporters and cooperatives face the sharpest strain, raising the question of who survives and how.| Coffee Intelligence
In coffee shops around the world, we’re still seeing exciting, experimental microlots for those “in the know,” and blends of lower grade Brazilian coffees for milky espresso-based drinks. Once-profitable "mid-80s" lots that balanced quality and scale have become unviable in today’s market. With the C price holding above $2/lb, many mid-tier coffees now cost as much as experimental microlots did in the past. This is eroding margins and collapsing demand, leaving specialty importers an...| Coffee Intelligence
The global coffee trade witnessed a remarkable shift in 2023 as Chinese imports of Brazilian coffee tripled within a year. This has set the stage for Chinese coffee chain Luckin Coffee recently entering a MoU with the Brazilian government. This is a strategic partnership that will help consolidate market power for both countries.| Coffee Intelligence
The European Union’s recent decision to delay the enforcement of its landmark European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) has set the record straight on whether plans will go ahead or be scratched. EU coffee imports hit €21.9 billion in 2022, underscoring that compliance is non-negotiable. Looking to cocoa and palm oil offers the coffee industry a roadmap for smarter EUDR preparation.| Coffee Intelligence