SAO PAULO, Brazil – Quotes of Robusta coffee dropped in the Brazilian market in the first fortnight of April, pressed down mainly by the harvesting advance in Rondônia, the nearness of harvesting activities in Espírito Santo and the return of the Funrural (Rural Workers’ Assistance Fund) charge.
Between March 31 and April 13, prices decreased 5.4%, with the CEPEA/ESALQ Index of Robusta type 6, screen 13, Espírito Santo State, closing at 414.64 BRL (131.84 USD) per 60-kilo bag on April 13.
Despite the downward trend of prices, Robusta trades should pick up as harvesting advances. The Brazilian industry should resume purchasing Robusta coffee, due to higher supply of new beans, to increase their inventories.
Arabica
The pace of Arabica trades was slow in the first half of April, with many purchasers out of the market. On April 13, the CEPEA/ESALQ Index of Arabica type 6, hard cup or better (delivered in São Paulo city), closed at 473.27 BRL (150.48 USD) per 60-kilo bag, 0.4% down compared to that on March 31.
Conditions of crops
A new cold front brought rains to most Arabica regions in early April. The volume of rains varied among the regions and the conditions continued favorable to the seed filling, according to Cepea collaborators.
In the Robusta regions, weather conditions were distinct. In Rondônia, rains continued hampering the harvesting intensification. In Espírito Santo, on the other hand, with the nearness of the 2017/18 crop, firmer weather was favorable for fieldwork.
