Brazilian farmers shipped a record 37.12 million 60-kg (132-lb) bags of green coffee in the 2018-19 crop year ended in June, 38.1% more than the previous crop, as ample supplies from all-time high output boosted trade. According to a report from exporters association Cecafé released on Monday, June exports of green coffee totaled 2.58 million bags, or 13.6% more than in same month a year earlier.
Arabica shipments accounted for most of the exports in June with 2.19 million bags, 10% more than in June 2018, but robusta exports at 385,000 bags showed the highest growth rate, at 35% over the same month last year, the industry body said. "We managed to boost market share both in traditional markets, such as Europe, and in new markets in Asia," said Nelson Carvalhaes, Cecafé's head. He said Brazil ended the 2018-19 crop with near 38% of the global coffee trade.
Keeping that level of exports in the new crop year will be challenging for Brazil since production will be smaller due to the off-year in the arabica biennial production cycle, Carvalhaes said. The Brazilian government expects production around 50 million bags in 2019-20 versus near 62 million bags in 2018-19. "We will have to work with stocks to keep exporting volumes, but stocks are not very comfortable.
They are small if you look at historical levels," said Carvalhaes. Cecafé said there were widespread reports of frosts from producers over the weekend, but the body considers it too early to have an accurate estimate of potential losses. Carvalhaes said agronomists need at least five days to a week to check the situation in the field.