SAO PAULO, Brazil – The harvesting of the 2020/21 robusta crop started in some areas from Espírito Santo State (ES) in the first fortnight of April. According to agents, activities have been slow, once the volume of green beans is still high in most crops.
In general, small-sized crops have been harvested, since they count on family or community labor. Thus, despite the recommendations for no social contact, agents have not reported difficulties to find workers available. On the other hand, some logistic issues have been reported.
In Rondônia, major problems have not been reported. Until the end of the first fortnight of the month, from 5 to 10% of the volume expected for the state had been harvested.
According to agents, activities are gradually increasing, and a larger volume of the robusta crop should arrive at the market in the coming weeks.
Prices, in turn, were underpinned on some days by international valuations and the absence of sellers in the market. The CEPEA/ESALQ Index for the type 6, screen 13, Espírito Santo State, closed at 329.82 BRL (62.99 USD) per 60-kilo bag on April 15, 0.8% up compared to that on March 31.
Arabica
In the first half of April, arabica coffee growers were getting ready to start harvesting the 2020/21 crop. The warmer weather in that period favored beans ripening.
Agents have also been attentive to labor availability, once, so far, hand picking has counted on workers who live around arabica-producing farms.
In the spot market, despite the slight oscillations, the Brazilian prices for arabica coffee were underpinned by sellers, who were away from the market. On April 15, the CEPEA/ESALQ Index for the arabica coffee type 6 (delivered in São Paulo) closed at 590.34 BRL (112.75 USD) per 60-kilo bag, 1.5% up compared to that on March 31.
Exports
Despite some restrictions imposed in March, because of the coronavirus pandemic, Brazilian coffee exports increased last month, according to data from Cecafé (Coffee Exporters Council).
Considering green coffee (arabica and robusta), shipments totaled 2.8 million bags of 60 kilos, 5% more than that from February and 2.4% up compared to that from March/19. In general, coffee exports totaled 3.2 million bags, 4.5% and 0.2% up, respectively, in the same comparison.
