SAO PAULO, Brazil – In the first half of April, Brazilian coffee farmers were monitoring crops, beginning the harvesting and/or getting ready for the crop activities from the 2023/24 season, while purchasers were buying only small amounts of coffee, says CEPEA in its latest report. The few sellers interested in closing deals asked higher prices for the product in the first fortnight of the month.
Thus, sales were low in the national spot market in that period – besides this context, the holiday on April 7th (Holy Friday) drove many agents away from the market. Low liquidity in Brazil and the price fluctuations abroad led domestic quotations to swing too, however, rises prevailed.
Between March 31st and April 14th, the CEPEA/ESALQ Index for arabica coffee type 6, delivered to São Paulo city, rose 7.7%, closing at BRL 1,125.42 (USD 228.84)/60-kilo bag on April 14th. As for robusta coffee, the CEPEA/ESALQ Index (EspÃrito Santo) for the robusta coffee type 6, screen 13, closed at BRL 664.28 (USD 135.07)/bag, 4% up in the fortnight.
Many Brazilian farmers from different regions reported difficulties to find labor for the harvesting. In EspÃrito Santo State, the higher number of coffee roasters in regions that produce coffee is attracting labor – which used to work in crops.
Arabica farmers are getting ready to begin the harvest. Despite the concerns about the volume to be harvested in the 2023/24 crop, beans are developing well. Crop activities are expected to begin between late April and early May in some areas in Minas Gerais and in São Paulo. In northern Paraná, where beans are still green, activities will be delayed.
For Robusta, the harvesting is scheduled to being in Rondônia in the coming days. In ES, activities have begun already and are expected to step up soon.
