Global coffee production is expected to rise by 7 per cent to record 148 million bags in 2012-13 coffee year, beginning October 2012, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) said in its latest report.
The production is estimated at 138 million bags (of 60 kg each) in 2011-12 coffee year (October-September).
“World coffee production for 2012-13 is forecast at a record 148 million bags, up 10 million from the previous year,” USDA said.
Half the gain is attributed to Brazil’s Arabica crop entering the on-year of the biennial production cycle, while record Robusta harvests in Brazil and Vietnam are also expected to contribute to the growth, it added.
According to the International Coffee Organisation (ICO), the production prospects for 2012-13 crop year are considered to be good with significant production increases expected in Brazil in accordance with the biennial cycle for Arabica.
Production estimates
The USDA has pegged production in Brazil at a record 55.9 million bags, up 6.7 million primarily to the Arabica trees entering the on-year of the biennial production cycle.
Vietnam’s production is expected at a record 22.4 million bags, based on a combination of favourable growing conditions and an increase in fruit-bearing area, while the output in Colombia is forecasted at 7.5 million bags.
Coffee production in India is pegged at 5.1 million bags and in Indonesia it is forecasted at 9.7 million bags, USDA said.
In the other major growing areas, production in Central America is expected at 14 million bags and in sub-Saharan Africa it is pegged to rise by nearly 1 million bags to 17.2 million, with half the gains attributed to Cote d’Ivoire and Ethiopia, it added.