Coffee is the world’s most widely traded tropical agricultural
commodity, accounting for exports worth an estimated US$ 15.4 billion in
2009/10, when some 93.4 million bags were shipped.
World coffee exports, by value and volume 1997/98 – 2009/10
Some 70 countries produce coffee, of which the Exporting Members of
the International Coffee Organization are responsible for over 97
percent of world output.In 2010 total coffee sector employment was estimated at about 26 million people in 52 producing countries (see ICC 105-5).
For
many countries, coffee exports are not only a vital contributor to
foreign exchange earnings but also account for a significant proportion
of tax income and gross domestic product.
For seven countries the average share of coffee exports in total export
earnings exceeded 10 percent in the period 2000–2010, although the
importance of coffee for many countries is diminishing over time as
their economies diversify. This can be demonstrated by the fact that
during the period 1996 to 2000, there were 15 countries which fell into
this category, i.e.
the average share of coffee exports in their total export earnings
exceeded 10 percent.
Average share of coffee exports in total export earnings
Global consumption in coffee year 2009/10 totalled
around 133.9 million bags, of which 72 million bags were consumed in
Importing Member countries, 21.2 million in non-member countries and
40.7 million in producing countries.
Consumption has increased on average by around1.2 percent annually since the early 1980s, rising to more than 2 percent in recent years.
Probably the most spectacular
growth of a major market occurred in Japan, where it initially averaged
some 3.5 percent a year until appearing to have reached a plateau over
the last ten years.
Japan is now the third largest importer of coffee in the world.
Over
the last five years market growth in Europe has been weak, with
consumption showing signs of stagnation and possibly even decline.
The
situation is only slightly better in the United States, where overall
consumption, despite the boom in the specialty sector, has grown at a
low rate.
The figures for consumption in some producing countries and in
non-member countries point to a surprisingly large upsurge since the
turn of the century, growing on average by over 6 percent per annum,although the economic turmoil of recent years has been a brake on growth.