More coffee exported, but prices down

Viet Nam exported about 100,000 tonnes of coffee in November, earning a value of US$145 million, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

In these 11 months, although coffee export volume was 19.3% higher than in same period last year, export value dropped by 14.7% due to the world recession.

In November, the export volume and value were nearly double the previous month, the ministry said.

These numbers increased the coffee export volume and value in 11 months to 1.04 million tonnes and $1.54 billion, respectively, it added.

In these 11 months, although coffee export volume was 19.3 per cent higher than in same period last year, export value dropped by 14.7 per cent due to the world recession.

“The world recession has strongly affected global coffee prices. The average price in the first 10 months of 2009 was only $1.478 per tonne, a drop by $615 per tonne over the same period last year,” said the ministry.

Recently, Belgium became the biggest market for the Vietnamese coffee industry. In 11 months, export volume to Belgium increased three-fold while export value doubled.

Coffee yield in Tay Nguyen drops

The 2009-10 coffee harvest in Tay Nguyen (Central Highland) provinces would drop by between 20 and 33 per cent, said Nguyen Nam Hai, general secretary of the Viet Nam Coffee Exporter’s Club.

In Dak Lak, the coffee hub of Viet Nam, total coffee yield is forecast to decline by 15,000 tonnes compared with the last crop. If the forecast comes true, the total yield of coffee harvested in the province will be around 400,000 tonnes.

Not only Dak Lak but also other Central Highland provinces including Dak Nong, Lam Dong and Gia Lai have seen yields decline.

Tough weather conditions were the main reason causing low output. Capital shortages were also a cause, he added.

Recently, those provinces harvested more than 30 per cent of the total coffee area. The farmers, however, have seen little profit because of higher prices for oil, fertiliser and labour.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News

Tags: Vietnam agriculture, Vietnam Coffee, vietnam coffee exports