<p>With the coffee harvest season kicking off in Brazil, global coffee prices —particularly Robusta—are witnessing a steady decline, causing concern among Indian growers, who were expecting a price surge during June and July.</p><p>Just a year ago, Robusta coffee was fetching up to Rs 500 per kg. Now, the price has dropped to around Rs 360 per kg. Many growers, who had stocked up their harvest anticipating a seasonal spike and a good profit, are now worried about incurring losses.</p><p><strong>London market</strong></p><p>In the London market, the price of Robusta fell by over $400 per tonne in the past week alone, now trading at $3,737 per tonne. It was fetching $5,459 on March 30. Similarly, Arabica coffee prices in the New York market have dipped to 315 cents per pound from a peak of over 400 cents in March.</p><p>The trend of declining prices is particularly distressing for coffee estate owners of the region who have been investing heavily in plantation maintenance, of late. Just three months ago, growers were able to sell a 50-kg bag of Robusta for up to Rs 14,000.</p><p>Today, the same bag is being sold for only around Rs 9,000 to Rs 9,500. The hope of fetching Rs 15,000 per bag for Robusta cherry coffee had prompted even small-scale farmers to stock their yield. But with prices coming down, they forced to sell the beans at the lowest prices seen in a year.</p><p> “We sold our coffee early in the past two years. This year, we stocked it up hoping for a better price, but we have incurred losses again,” said Sudheer, a disappointed grower from Abbu Gudige, near Kalasa.</p><p>Brazil, the world’s largest Arabica coffee producer, has already completed 30% of its harvest, including a significant volume of Robusta.</p><p>This influx has added to the price fluctuation in the global market. </p><p>International coffee organisations predict that global Arabica production may decrease next year. However, Robusta production is expected to rise, further affecting prices, it is hoped.</p>
<p>With the coffee harvest season kicking off in Brazil, global coffee prices —particularly Robusta—are witnessing a steady decline, causing concern among Indian growers, who were expecting a price surge during June and July.</p><p>Just a year ago, Robusta coffee was fetching up to Rs 500 per kg. Now, the price has dropped to around Rs 360 per kg. Many growers, who had stocked up their harvest anticipating a seasonal spike and a good profit, are now worried about incurring losses.</p><p><strong>London market</strong></p><p>In the London market, the price of Robusta fell by over $400 per tonne in the past week alone, now trading at $3,737 per tonne. It was fetching $5,459 on March 30. Similarly, Arabica coffee prices in the New York market have dipped to 315 cents per pound from a peak of over 400 cents in March.</p><p>The trend of declining prices is particularly distressing for coffee estate owners of the region who have been investing heavily in plantation maintenance, of late. Just three months ago, growers were able to sell a 50-kg bag of Robusta for up to Rs 14,000.</p><p>Today, the same bag is being sold for only around Rs 9,000 to Rs 9,500. The hope of fetching Rs 15,000 per bag for Robusta cherry coffee had prompted even small-scale farmers to stock their yield. But with prices coming down, they forced to sell the beans at the lowest prices seen in a year.</p><p> “We sold our coffee early in the past two years. This year, we stocked it up hoping for a better price, but we have incurred losses again,” said Sudheer, a disappointed grower from Abbu Gudige, near Kalasa.</p><p>Brazil, the world’s largest Arabica coffee producer, has already completed 30% of its harvest, including a significant volume of Robusta.</p><p>This influx has added to the price fluctuation in the global market. </p><p>International coffee organisations predict that global Arabica production may decrease next year. However, Robusta production is expected to rise, further affecting prices, it is hoped.</p>
