SAO PAULO: Brazil exported 2.5 million bags of green coffee in February, up 1 percent from the same month a year ago and little changed from January exports, the coffee exporters association Cecafe said on Thursday.
Arabica accounted for 2.43 million 60-kg bags of last month’s exports, which were up 9 percent from a year ago, while robusta beans accounted for 67,592 bags down 73 percent from a year ago.
Total coffee exports, including soluble and roasted, over the past year through February remained high at a near-record 36.7 million bags, though exports in the past months have tapered off after peaking in late 2015.
Cecafe President Nelson Carvalhaes said the strong export numbers come despite an extended drought over the past two seasons that curtailed yields from the world’s largest coffee belt, which accounts for 40 percent of global coffee market.
“These (strong export) results remained during the interharvest period, which will last another three to four months” before the new crop is harvested, he said. Brazil is approaching the start of harvest in May. Most analysts expect the crop to yield between 50 million and 60 million tonnes, which would be close to a record.
