Soaring coffee prices foretell a financial grind
The author is a Reuters Breakingviews columnist. The opinions expressed are his own.
By Robert Cyran
NEW YORK, July 30(Reuters Breakingviews) -The coffee market has experienced quite a jolt. Robusta bean prices have come in slightly, but remain near record highs. Espresso and flat-white lovers may not be getting bitter just yet, but rising demand and climate-related effects are brewing trouble for the $200 billion industry.
Java demand is rising internationally as higher incomes attract new drinkers. To satisfy baristas and supermarkets, farmers cultivate two varieties. Arabica is more popular, expensive and finicky. Its plants grow at least 1,000 meters above sea level, in cool and rainy areas. Robusta beans are hardier, but generally regarded as less tasty and thus relegated to instant coffee and blends.
Supply can’t keep up, however. Vietnam produces about 40% of the world’s robusta, and a drought is hitting hard. Coffee trader Volcafe estimates the country could harvest its smallest crop in 13 years, leading to a shortfall of 4.6 million 60-kilogram bags. As a result, September robusta contracts nearly hit $5,000 per metric ton in early July before coming down to about $4,300 per ton on hopes for a good Brazilian crop. Arabica prices hit their highest level in a decade earlier this year.
Starbucks SBUX.O customers shouldn’t be suffering much. Some products are quickly affected by commodity prices. Petrol, for one, swings with the oil market largely because crude accounts for about half the charge at the pump. In a $5 cup of joe, however, the unroasted beans cost about 7 cents. Consumers of powdered and crystallized alternatives feel the pinch sooner.
Under basic economic theory, shortfalls encourage more production. And big trading houses are indeed investing in new plantations. Smaller growers also tend to respond better to price signals than with, say, cocoa because there’s less government interference and co-ops have good links to exporters. Considering that it can take four years for coffee plants to reach maturity, a glut might even develop.
Climate change looms large, however. Roughly half the land best suited to produce arabica won’t qualify as such by 2050. Climbing temperatures chase farmers higher up mountains to cooler fields and more unpredictable precipitation. Such pressures are already prompting switches to robusta.
These beans are vulnerable, too, evidenced by Vietnam’s recent struggles. The World Coffee Research industry trade group predicts that in less than two decades demand will outstrip supply by 35 million bags, or almost half of current production. The business is destined to become a real financial grind.
Follow @rob_cyran on X
CONTEXT NEWS
The price of robusta coffee one-month futures was $4,290 per ton on the LIFFE exchange on July 30. It had reached as high as $4,781 per ton on July 17, about double its level a year earlier.
Over-caffeinated robusta prices https://reut.rs/3y0Dh0X
Coffee harvests have grown 50% in two decades Coffee harvests have grown 50% in two decades https://reut.rs/4f3hV3L
Editing by Jeffrey Goldfarb and Pranav Kiran
Mga Kaugnay na Asset
Pinakabagong Balita
Disclaimer: Ang mga kabilang sa XM Group ay nagbibigay lang ng serbisyo sa pagpapatupad at pag-access sa aming Online Trading Facility, kung saan pinapahintulutan nito ang pagtingin at/o paggamit sa nilalaman na makikita sa website o sa pamamagitan nito, at walang layuning palitan o palawigin ito, at hindi din ito papalitan o papalawigin. Ang naturang pag-access at paggamit ay palaging alinsunod sa: (i) Mga Tuntunin at Kundisyon; (ii) Mga Babala sa Risk; at (iii) Kabuuang Disclaimer. Kaya naman ang naturang nilalaman ay ituturing na pangkalahatang impormasyon lamang. Mangyaring isaalang-alang na ang mga nilalaman ng aming Online Trading Facility ay hindi paglikom, o alok, para magsagawa ng anumang transaksyon sa mga pinansyal na market. Ang pag-trade sa alinmang pinansyal na market ay nagtataglay ng mataas na lebel ng risk sa iyong kapital.
Lahat ng materyales na nakalathala sa aming Online Trading Facility ay nakalaan para sa layuning edukasyonal/pang-impormasyon lamang at hindi naglalaman – at hindi dapat ituring bilang naglalaman – ng payo at rekomendasyon na pangpinansyal, tungkol sa buwis sa pag-i-invest, o pang-trade, o tala ng aming presyo sa pag-trade, o alok para sa, o paglikom ng, transaksyon sa alinmang pinansyal na instrument o hindi ginustong pinansyal na promosyon.
Sa anumang nilalaman na galing sa ikatlong partido, pati na ang mga nilalaman na inihanda ng XM, ang mga naturang opinyon, balita, pananaliksik, pag-analisa, presyo, ibang impormasyon o link sa ibang mga site na makikita sa website na ito ay ibibigay tulad ng nandoon, bilang pangkalahatang komentaryo sa market at hindi ito nagtataglay ng payo sa pag-i-invest. Kung ang alinmang nilalaman nito ay itinuring bilang pananaliksik sa pag-i-invest, kailangan mong isaalang-alang at tanggapin na hindi ito inilaan at inihanda alinsunod sa mga legal na pangangailangan na idinisenyo para maisulong ang pagsasarili ng pananaliksik sa pag-i-invest, at dahil dito ituturing ito na komunikasyon sa marketing sa ilalim ng mga kaugnay na batas at regulasyon. Mangyaring siguruhin na nabasa at naintindihan mo ang aming Notipikasyon sa Hindi Independyenteng Pananaliksik sa Pag-i-invest at Babala sa Risk na may kinalaman sa impormasyong nakalagay sa itaas, na maa-access dito.
