Fatshimetrie, August 28, 2024 – An upward trend was observed in the international markets of Arabica coffee, with a significant increase of 6.80% in the price, from 4.12 US dollars to 4.40 US dollars per kilogram during the week of August 26 to 31, 2024. This development, reported in a press release from the National Commission of Mercuriales of the Ministry of Foreign Trade, highlights an interesting dynamic in the coffee market.
This increase in the price of Arabica coffee is also accompanied by an increase in Robusta coffee on international markets, thus highlighting a general upward trend for these agricultural products. On the other hand, other products such as cocoa, rubber, papain, cinchona bark, totaquina powder, quinine salt and Rauwolfia remained stable, experiencing neither increase nor decrease during the period analyzed.
This price fluctuation is mainly influenced by supply and demand dynamics in international markets, as well as the supply chain. These factors, combined with geopolitical events, climatic conditions and other elements, contribute to the volatility of prices of agricultural and forestry products.
Interestingly, the Democratic Republic of Congo plays an important role in coffee production, particularly in the Lake Kivu region. With approximately 11,000 coffee farmers in the country, the DRC produces the main coffee varieties, namely Robusta and Arabica coffee. Following the end of the civil war and the signing of the peace agreement in 2002, coffee production grew significantly, from 32,000 tonnes in 2002 to 40,000 tonnes in 2003.
These data demonstrate the importance of the coffee industry to the Congolese economy and highlight the challenges and opportunities facing coffee producers in a constantly changing global market. The price increases observed in recent weeks underscore the need for industry players to remain vigilant and adapt to market fluctuations to ensure stable and sustainable growth of the coffee industry in the Democratic Republic of Congo.