| Coffee is world's most important traded commodity
Coffee Trade comprises of selling and buying
of coffee across the globe. Coffee was the most important export
commodity in 2004 and was the top agricultural export for twelve
countries. It reached to be the world's seventh-largest legal
agricultural export by value in 2005. It stands above coal, meat,
wheat and sugar in the most important traded commodity list. It
is estimated that around, 20 million people work in the coffee
industry globally.
The consumption of coffee is highest in the US
with one-fifth of all the global coffee production and the largest
coffee producer in the world is Brazil. However, the global harvest
faces fluctuations from year to year due to the climate, amount
of coffee produced and the price charged for it. Coffee is a free
trade commodity since the dissolving of all coffee agreements
in 1989.
For export purpose, the coffee beans are sorted
and graded. They are then sold to an exporter, who again sells
them to importers across the globe. The coffee beans are brought
each country for consumption by these importers and then sold
to the roasters. The roasters quality check the product for its
flavor and then the coffee is packed.
The coffee beans are usually packed in 60 kg
jute, hemp or sisal bags. The coffee beans can be kept in air-permeable
bags, until they kept dry and ventilated while traveling. They
are marked with their grades, country of origin and method of
processing. Importers can purchase through three different channels,
which are; spot purchasing, shipments or futures.
Coffee Funds
- Fundraising made easy with gourmet coffee
|