Brazil saw its monthly coffee exports decrease in volume terms in December.
The fall off has concentrated Brazilian coffee industry minds on tighter environmental rules due to come into force in the EU, its main market.
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In its monthly statistical report for December, the Brazilian Coffee Exporters Council (Cecafé) revealed that 3.808m 60 kg bags of coffee were shipped abroad, corresponding to foreign-exchange earnings of $1.14bn.
This was a 8.1% decrease in volume, year-on-year, although it represented a 42.2% increase in foreign-exchange earnings compared to the same period the year before.
Brazil, the world’s leading coffee producer and exporter, did however, ship 50.4 million 60-kg bags of coffee abroad in 2024, marking a 38.5% increase compared to 2023.
The rise in volumes also surpassed the previous record set in 2020 by 12.8%, according to Cecafé.
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By GlobalDataBut the industry body is aware that tighter rules around coffee imports are on their way in europe.
Under the terms of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), businesses selling coffee, as well as cocoa, palm oil and other products in the EU, will need to prove their supply chains do not contribute to deforestation.
It was originally due to come into play on 30 December 2024 but, following pressure from the food and beverage industry to extend the deadline, it will now come into effect at the end of this year.
In its December report, Cecafé said: “Cecafé’s priority for 2025 is to improve sector knowledge and support its adaptation to the new realities of exporting to the European Union, which requires comprehensive socio-environmental risk due diligence processes throughout the supply chain.
“This is even more important given the relevance of the European Union for Brazilian coffee exports. According to Cecafé data, Brazil exported 23.6m bags of coffee to the European Union in 2024, representing a 42.8% increase in sales to the bloc.
“As a result, the EU now accounts for 47% of Brazil’s total coffee exports. This means that approximately 71,500 containers will be subject to verification, highlighting the need for a structured and strategic approach in working with European leaders to classify Brazil’s coffee growing regions based on technical and scientific data.”
It added: “For Brazilian coffees, it is essential to have an up-to-date and standardised mapping of coffee growing areas that reflects the reality of the environmental responsibility of Brazilian coffee growing.”
