Farmers profit on record coffee bean prices

The price of coffee has escalated to VND70.8-71 million (US$2,885-2,893) per ton, surging from VND70 million last July.

Coffee grower Hai from Kon Tum province sold her six tons of coffee beans for VND71 million per ton, an 80% rise from the previous year.

“I had planned to sell during Tet (Lunar New Year) in February, but the offered price led me to sell earlier,” she explained.

Similarly, Lan, a coffee farmer from Gia Lai province, sold her beans for VND70.8 million per ton. “I was surprised that prices remained high during the harvest season,” she said.

The Agriculture and Rural Development Departments of these provinces report that these high prices have yielded profits of VND120–200 million per hectare for coffee farmers, an increase of VND60–80 million from the last season.

Globally, March robusta coffee LRCc2 rose 5.3% to $3,145 a ton, having hit its highest in at least 16 years at $3,147 as Vietnam farmers delay deliveries of pre-sold beans while Red Sea shipping attacks slow deliveries to Europe, according to Reuters.

March arabica coffee KCc1rose 3% to $1.8540 per lb.

The Vietnam Coffee and Cocoa Association forecasts a decrease in the country’s coffee production to 1.6–1.7 million tons in the 2023–2024 crop year, down from 1.78 million tons in the previous year.