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Informist, Thursday, May 21, 2026

MUMBAI – Global coffee prices retreated in April as improved global supply outlook outweighed concern over higher freight costs. The International Coffee Organisation's composite indicator averaged 266.24 cents per pound, down nearly 3% from March, the organisation said in its April report. According to the organisation, shipping freight costs had risen 43.6% in April following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. However, the improved global coffee supply outlook dwarfed the rise in freight costs, leading to a decline in coffee prices in April, the report said.

"The balance between the impacts of an improved global supply outlook and the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz shifted in April," the report said. "This change in perspective may reflect the market having already factored in the war, while news related to supply and demand fundamentals continued to evolve," it added. In March, global coffee prices had rebounded after falling for three straight months, as shipping disruptions along the Strait of Hormuz supported prices. 

Prices of all coffee groups fell in April, with the Robustas experiencing the largest drop. The average prices of Colombian Milds and Other Milds fell by 0.9% on month in April to 334.56 cents per pound and 331.32 cents per pound, respectively. Brazilian Naturals coffee prices fell 2.1% on month to 313.76 cents per pound, and Robustas fell 6.9% on month to 164.64 cents per pound, according to the report. "The relatively sharper downturn in Robusta prices appears to have been driven by the improved supply availability, which was up 16.7% in the first six months of coffee year 2025/26," the report said. 

Meanwhile, export performance across the four coffee groups was mixed in March. While shipments of Other Milds and Robustas increased, exports of Brazilian Naturals and Colombian Milds declined. Robustas exports rose 24% on year to 5.52 million bags (1 bag = 60 kg). "This is the largest ever volume shipped on record, surpassing the 5.1 million bags exported in January 2025," the report said. Other Milds coffee shipments rose 0.9% on year to 2.59 million bags.

However, Brazilian Naturals coffee exports fell 16.8% on year in March to 2.7 million bags, marking the 13th consecutive month of decline. Colombian Milds coffee exports fell 33.8% on year to 880,000 bags, marking the fifth month of contraction. 

Region-wise, coffee exports were also mixed in March. Exports of all forms of coffee from Asia and Oceania were up 13.1% on year at 5.82 million bags, and shipment from Mexico and Central America rose by 7.1% on year to 2.3 million bags in March, the report said. Meanwhile, Africa's coffee exports declined 14.7% on year to 1.4 million bags, and South America's exports fell 8.3% on year to 4.07 million bags. End

Reported by Reshma Ravi

Edited by Akul Nishant Akhoury

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