BONN, Germany – The 4C Code of Conduct has been in place for six years, and the time has come to do a second revision, taking into account the lessons learnt so far as well as the current needs of those working with the Code. We plan to publish the new version of the 4C Code of Conduct at the end of 2014.
CHINA / YUNNAN – Chinese coffee industry strives for greater global influence
YUNNAN (China) – Coffee growers in southwestern China’s Yunnan province have managed to expand rapidly despite drought conditions and a four-year slump in sales.
This although the drop in coffee prices earlier this year indicates that further efforts are required to strengthen the industry, according to the country’s largest instant coffee producer.
Xiong Xiangru, president of the Yunnan-based Dehong Hogood Coffee Co, told the Chinese-language National Business Daily on Sept. 25 that stepping up production and intensifying efforts to build the brand and the industry chain would help raise the profile of Yunnan coffee in the global market.
A survey conducted by the Coffee Association of Yunnan at the end of August showed that coffee farms in the province had surpassed 1 million mu (66,667 hectares) in area — a target the local government had set for 2015 as part of its coffee industry development plan.
While the coffee beans produced in Yunnan account for 98% of China’s total output, Xiong said the amount was only 2% of overall global production, rendering Yunnan coffee a minor player in the world market.
Hu Lu, deputy secretary-general of the association, said that in order to command greater pricing power in the global market, Yunnan coffee should follow the example of Jamaica’s Blue Mountain coffee and improve its visibility in the market.
Xiong added that the local industry would also have to venture into the deep processing of coffee beans to exert greater influence on global coffee futures.
Chinese companies operating in the sector, however, are also facing increasing competition from global coffee brands that are expanding their operations in Yunnan, the newspaper said.
Swiss multinational food company Nestle, which has provided technical support to the local industry for ensuring the high-quality beans supplied from Yunnan, announced in early September that it plans to speed up its Yunnan coffee project.
Earlier this year, global coffee chain Starbucks also signed a joint-venture agreement with Yunnan-based Ai Ni Group to increase its purchase of beans from the region, the newspaper added.
Meanwhile, Hu added that the growing global production of coffee this year is expected to cast a shadow on coffee prices, which have already dropped to multi-month lows, with the impacts from the slowing US economy and the European debt crisis to continue into the near future.
While Yunnan, along with other major coffee-bean producers — Brazil and Vietnam — is expecting a good harvest later this year, a view in the industry is that purchase prices are likely to be higher than 20 yuan (US$3.17) per kilogram at the beginning of this year and may reach 25 to 28 yuan (US$3.96 to US$4.44) per kilogram, according to the newspaper.
Source: WantChinaTimes
INDIA – Coffee exports down by 2.85% so far in 2013
NEW DELHI: India’s coffee exports have declined by 2.85 per cent to 1,72,480 tonnes so far in the 2013 calendar year due to weak global prices, according to the Coffee Board.
INDIA – Coffee production is expected to go up by 9% in 2013-14
NEW DELHI – Coffee production in the country is expected to increase by 9.05 per cent to 3.47 lakh tonnes in the year 2013-14, on account of normal blossom showers in all major coffee growing areas, according to government data.
KOPI LUWAK – WSPA International: the Cruelty behind the World’s Most Expensive Coffee
“Behind the world’s most expensive coffee are huge animal welfare issues”, says the World Society for the Protection of Animals*, and consumers, retailers and governments need to help end the cruel practices behind civet coffee production.
BRAZIL – The Coffee Economy, 1840-1930
The impact of coffee on the Brazilian economy was much stronger than that of sugar and gold. When the coffee surge began, Brazil was already free from the limitations of colonialism.
GLOBAL – Nescafé Dolce Gusto partners with Fiorucci on new single-serve machine
GLENDALE, CA, US – Nescafé Dolce Gusto, known for its design-conscious line of at-home coffee machines, is giving new meaning to the fashion phrase “Fall Collection” with the September introduction of its first couture Dolce Gusto Genio machine, designed by iconic Italian label Fiorucci.
US – The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf receives capital investment from trio of leading global private equity funds
LOS ANGELES, CA – International Coffee & Tea, LLC, which owns and operates The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf – the oldest and largest privately-held specialty premium coffee and tea retailer in the United States – announces that Advent International, CDIB Capital, and Mirae Asset Private Equity have joined to acquire a significant equity position in the Company.
COOPERATION – USAID & Starbucks support Colombian small-coffee farmers to improve their livelihoods
BOGOTA – The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and Starbucks have recently announced a public-private partnership to increase coffee yields and improve livelihoods for 25,000 farmers in support of Colombia’s rural development.
WORLD COFFEEE EVENTS – China Barista Championship Shanghai Division to kick off on September17th
SHANGHAI, People’s Republic of China — China Barista Championship (CBC), Shanghai Division will officially kick off on September 17th-22nd at Shanghai Westgate Mall as one of the featured events of Shanghai Tourism Festival.
