Report Highlights:
Ecuador's coffee production is forecasted to increase to 750,000 60-kilo bags GBE in MY 2005/2006 due to increased prices in the international markets. Besides exporting coffee and coffee products, Ecuador has become a coffee bean importer, mainly of Robusta varieties. Coffee exports for MY 2006 are forecasted at 716,000 bags and imports at 265,000 bags.
Executive Summary
Coffee production for Marketing Year 2005/2006 (April/March) is expected to increase to 750,000 60-Kg bags, up from a revised production of 733,000 bags in MY 2005.Increased world demand and better international prices will encourage coffee farmers to harvest more coffee this year, being Arabica production higher than Robusta because of its higher price.
Ecuador’s local consumption is estimated at 304,000 bags per year, 80% of which is consumed as soluble or instant coffee. Coffee exports for MY 2006 are forecasted at 716,000 bags, 68 percent of which are soluble and instant coffee products.In order to meet the industry’s demand of Robusta coffee beans in 2004, Ecuador imported, under a temporary admission regime, 162,000 bags from Vietnam, Indonesia and Brazil.For the upcoming MY 2006, Ecuador is forecasted to import additional 170,000 bags.