BONN, August 3, 2026 — Fairtrade International has announced updated minimum prices for coffee, providing stronger price security for farmers facing higher production costs and greater predictability for buyers in a volatile market. The new prices will take effect in December.
The new Fairtrade Minimum Prices for Arabica and Robusta coffee beans are the result of a year-long research and consultation process involving data collection, stakeholder consultations, market analysis and democratic decision-making.
Fairtrade’s Standards Committee, a multi-stakeholder body comprising representatives of farmers and commercial partners, made the final pricing decision at its meeting earlier this month.
From 1 December 2026, the new Fairtrade Minimum Price for washed Arabica beans will be US$2.00 per pound, an increase of 20 cents, or 11 per cent, from the previous price of US$1.80 per pound. More than 80 per cent of all Fairtrade coffee sold is washed Arabica.
For natural Robusta beans, which account for less than 10 per cent of Fairtrade coffee sales, the price will rise by 10 cents to US$1.30 per pound, an increase of about eight per cent. The Fairtrade Minimum Prices for natural Arabica and washed Robusta will also increase by 20 cents and 10 cents, respectively.
The Fairtrade Organic Differential and Fairtrade Premium — the additional amount paid on top of the selling price, which cooperatives decide how to invest in their businesses and communities — will remain unchanged. This will provide greater price stability and market predictability for cooperatives and traders.
Fairtrade distinguishes itself from other voluntary sustainability systems through its pricing interventions. It has committed to conducting a full review of its coffee prices every four years to strengthen producer resilience and promote more sustainable supply chains.
Fairtrade Minimum Price: A stronger safety net
The Fairtrade Minimum Price is a global floor price that serves as a safety net, protecting farmers from severe price drops and market volatility.
It is based on the sustainable cost of production, established through a rigorous process combining production-cost data, stakeholder consultation and dialogue. Fairtrade’s Standards Committee approves all Fairtrade prices.
The Fairtrade Minimum Price only comes into effect when market prices fall below the Fairtrade floor price, giving farmers and cooperatives greater protection during periods of low prices while allowing them to earn more when market prices rise.
For reference, the coffee price has not fallen below US$ 2.00 per pound since March 2024.
Fairtrade Premium and organic differential remain stable
The review process resulted in Fairtrade maintaining the existing values for the Fairtrade Premium and organic differential at US$0.20 per pound [0.453592kgs ] and US$ 0.40 per pound, respectively.
Market considerations — particularly the recent historically high prices — and the need to maintain predictability around these pricing mechanisms were among the factors considered in the decision.
Fairtrade coffee cooperatives earned more than €57 million in Fairtrade Premium in 2024. The benefit supports farmers in improving production methods, enables cooperatives to strengthen their businesses through infrastructure and other investments, and helps communities achieve their priorities.
The organic differential provides a financial incentive for farmers to adopt organic production, reflecting the higher costs faced by farms and cooperatives.
Fairtrade’s cost-of-production study conducted as part of the price review found that average organic production costs were broadly in line with the existing differential. Stakeholder input during the consultation period also supported maintaining the existing values for both the organic differential and Fairtrade Premium.
Process brings together farmer and trader representatives
Fairtrade’s review process involved gathering expert advice from the coffee industry, collecting and validating data on coffee production costs, obtaining stakeholder feedback through a consultation period, and analysing the findings through a project team with equal participation from coffee experts representing both producer and commercial perspectives.
The cost-of-production data came from 57 cooperatives in 13 countries covering the 2023–2024 crop period. The data was updated to reflect inflation and exchange rates as of September 2025 and validated by Fairtrade experts in the respective countries to provide a reliable representation of current production costs.
The project team also gathered and analysed external data sources to cross-check the findings and develop proposals for the two-month consultation period.
Based on feedback from more than 600 respondents, the project team considered a range of factors, including fairness, accountability, impact, market conditions and the interaction between Fairtrade prices, the Fairtrade Premium and the organic differential.
The team worked with Fairtrade International to submit a final price proposal to the Fairtrade Standards Committee for a decision.
Prices to support sustainable coffee into the future
“Fairtrade’s price review process is unique in the coffee sector, as the only methodology that provides an essential understanding of the various stakeholders in the value chain — from farmer cooperatives to roasters, brands and retailers, as well as civil society pushing to create a thriving coffee system,” said Colleen Anunu, Fairtrade International’s Senior Advisor for Coffee.
“Coffee farmers want to earn a dignified livelihood. The Fairtrade pricing structure is a critical safety net for cooperatives that supports farmer resilience in the face of climate change and emerging regulatory pressures, and also supports the security of global supply chains.
“It is the only market pricing intervention that involves such rigour and transparency.”
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