Photo: somaurbanismo
Brazil exported 4.222 million 60 kg bags of coffee in April 2024. Beforehand, the amount is a record for this month, surpassing the performance of April 2021. In fact, shipments also yielded the highest foreign exchange revenue in history for any month, reaching US$935.3 million.
This performance, in fact, implies growth of 53.3% in volume and 52.6% in value compared to the same period in 2023. Above all, the data is contained in the monthly statistical report of the Brazilian Coffee Exporters Council (Cecafé).
In the 10 months of the 2023/24 harvest year, the country's coffee shipments abroad total 39.256 million bags. Initially, showing an increase of 28.5% compared to what was recorded between July 2022 and the end of April last year. In revenue, the increase is 13.3%, with the value reaching US$ 7.939 billion.
Record
As of now, Brazilian coffee exports are also a record in the first four months of this year, totaling 16.242 million bags. In other words, 45.6% above that measured in the first four months of 2023. At US$3.444 billion, therefore, inflows from shipments reached the highest volume in history for these first four months. Therefore, jumping 42.4% over last year's US$2.418 billion. And surpassing the previous record of US$3.206 billion from January to April 2022.
According to the president of Cecafé, Márcio Ferreira, the voluminous exports recorded were driven by fresh coffee. Mainly canephoras (conilon + robusta), which also set a record for the year.
“This performance is possible due to the recovery of the harvest in 2023. This allows Arabica shipments to have considerable volumes. And, in particular, that the conilon and robusta ones present historical performances”, he explains.
Types of coffee
From January to the end of April, first of all, Arabica coffee remains the most exported. This represents 12.469 million bags, which corresponds to 76.77% of the total. And it still represents an increase of 31.3% compared to the first four months of last year.
The canephora variety had 2.559 million bags shipped in the period. Therefore, it is the highlight among product types, advancing 548% compared to the same period in 2023. And expanding its current representation to 15.75% overall.
Next comes the soluble coffee segment, with 1.203 million bags – a drop of 3.3% and 7.41% of the total. And, above all, the roasted and roasted and ground product section, with 11,136 bags (-26.5% and 0.07% representation).
“After a record March, we once again recorded the best volume for an April month in history in green coffee exports, driven by canephoras. This also increased the record for shipments of conilon and Robusta from Brazil in the first four months”, points out the president of Cecafé.
International scene
In other words, Ferreira reports that this performance is a reflection of the international market scenario. This is with lower availability of Indonesian and Vietnamese Robusta coffee, a space that was occupied by Brazil.
“Other producing countries have even been importing Brazilian coffee to meet their consumption and re-export commitments. Such as Mexico, Colombia, Vietnam and Indonesia. The Mexicans, for example, have once again increased imports of our green coffee. Mainly from canephoras, to use the raw material in its soluble manufacturing plant, confirming the quality of our coffees as the basis for industrialized products”, he highlights.
Thus, between January and April this year, Mexico imported 307,606 bags of Brazilian fresh coffee. A volume that represents a significant increase of 877% compared to the same period in 2023.
Regarding the record foreign exchange revenue obtained from exports in the first four months, Ferreira adds that the international market scenario is once again the motivator.
“International stock markets soared in April, boosting the value of shipments as a whole and, of course, from Brazil. This was important to mitigate the high costs in the operations of Brazilian exporters. They continue to work exemplarily to honor their commitments despite constant logistical bottlenecks”, he comments.
Export delays
Only in April 2024, however, 95 ships exporting coffee, or 80% of the total, were delayed at the Port of Santos (SP). That is, the main outlet for the product in Brazil, representing 70% of the total in the first four months. According to the Detention Zero Bulletin (DTZ), prepared by ElloX Digital in partnership with Cecafé.
Likewise, the rate of changes in ship calls to export the product in the Rio de Janeiro (RJ) port complex, responsible for 27% of shipments in 2024, was 70%. Next, in Paranaguá (PR), 42%; in Salvador (BA), 29%. And, finally, in Vitória (ES), 16%. Overall, 210 coffee export ships, or 54% of a total of 391 container ships, were delayed in April.
“Brazilian exporters continue to face intense logistical challenges, with the high rate of ship delays and lack of space. Which incur inefficiencies, mainly in the Port of Santos. Standing out as the main obstacles in adding high, unplanned costs to players in this segment”, reports Eduardo Heron, technical director at Cecafé.
Ports
The Port of Santos, despite the bottlenecks mentioned, remains the main exporter of coffee from Brazil abroad in the first four months. In other words, with the shipment of 11.386 million bags, which represents 70.1% of the total.
Next comes the Rio de Janeiro maritime complex, which accounts for 26.8% of exports, sending 4.352 million bags abroad. In addition to the Port of Paranaguá (PR), with the shipment of 144,372 bags and a representation of 0.9%.
Main destinations
Above all, the 10 main buyers of coffee in Brazil increased their purchases in the first four months of this year. Now, the United States leads the ranking, importing 2.669 million bags. Or 29.4% more compared to the first four months of 2023, which is equivalent to 16.4% of total exports.
Shortly after comes Germany, with a representation of 14.5%, as it acquired 2.352 million bags (+64.4%) and occupied second place in the table. Next comes Belgium, with the purchase of 1.671 million bags (+199.5%); Italy, with 1.314 million bags (+42.1%). And, in conclusion, Japan, with 813,817 bags (+26.3%).
Up to 10th place, the performance of the United Kingdom also stands out, which jumped to sixth place in the ranking. This is with the import of 522,233 bags of all types of coffee from Brazil, between January and April 2024. Thus, with a volume that implies substantial growth of 108.2% in relation to the first four months of 2023. And it is equivalent to 3, 4% of the total.
Differentiated coffees
Firstly, coffees that have superior quality or certificates of sustainable practices account for 18.8% of total Brazilian exports of the product in the first four months of 2024. That is, with the shipment of 3.054 million bags abroad. This volume represents an increase of 49.6% compared to that recorded in the first four months of 2023.
Therefore, the average price of the product was US$233.76 per bag, generating foreign exchange revenue of US$713.8 million. Which corresponds to 20.7% of the total coffee shipments in the four months. In the annual comparison, the value is 41.3% higher than that recorded in the same four months last year.
Then, in the ranking of the main destinations for differentiated coffees, between January and April 2024, the USA remains in first place. This resulted in the purchase of 769,494 bags, equivalent to 25.2% of the total of this type of product exported.
Closing the top 5, therefore, is Germany, with 550,620 bags and a representation of 18%. Next is Belgium, with 322,406 bags (10.6%); Netherlands (Netherlands), with 225,153 bags (7.4%). Finally, the United Kingdom, with 129,186 bags (4.2%).
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