KAMPALA, November 11, 2026 – Global coffee exports increased by 1 percent to 142.39 million 60-kilogramme bags in the 2025/26 coffee year, despite a 0.7 percent decline in shipments in September 2026, according to the International Coffee Organization [ICO].
The ICO’s October 2026 Coffee Market Report accessed by this news website shows that global exports of all forms of coffee fell to 11.55mln bags in September, compared with 11.63mln bags in the same month in 2025.
The annual increase, however, reflected stronger shipments from Asia and Oceania, particularly Vietnam, which offset declines in other major coffee-producing regions.
Exports from Asia and Oceania increased by 12.8 percent to 51.21mln bags during the 2025/26 coffee year, representing a net increase of 5.81mln bags. Vietnam accounted for the bulk of the growth, contributing an additional 5.2mln bags.
Africa recorded a 6.7 percent decline in coffee exports to 17.9mln bags, down from 19.19 million bags in the previous coffee year.
However, the continent registered a 2.8 percent improvement in September, with exports rising to 1.53mln bags from 1.49mln bags in September 2025. This marked the region’s first month of positive export growth in seven months.
Ethiopia, one of Africa’s major coffee exporters, experienced the steepest decline in the region, with exports falling by 8.3 percent during the 2025/26 coffee year, representing a reduction of 0.62mln bags.
South America’s exports declined by 6.3 percent to 57.28mln bags during the coffee year, compared with 61.13mln bags in 2024/25, despite recording a 2.6 percent increase in September to 5.84mln bags.
Brazil, the world’s largest coffee exporter, recorded a 7.3 percent decline in exports to 40.20mln bags, down from 43.36mln bags in the previous coffee year.
In contrast, exports from the Caribbean, Central America and Mexico increased by 4.6 percent to 16.01mln bags during the 2025/26 coffee year, supported by stronger shipments from Guatemala and Honduras.
The report also indicates that global green coffee bean exports increased by 5.8 percent to 10.19mln bags in September 2026, compared with 9.63mln bags in the corresponding month a year earlier.
Robusta coffee was the main driver of this growth, with green bean exports increasing by 15.7 percent to 4.07mln bags. Colombian Milds also recorded a 12.6 percent increase to 1.19mln bags.
However, exports of Brazilian Naturals declined by 2.8 percent to 3.32mln bags, while shipments of Other Milds fell by 1.7 percent to 1.61mln bags.
For the entire 2025/26 coffee year, green bean exports increased by 1.3 percent to 123.93mln bags, compared with 122.33mln bags in the previous coffee year.
The Robustas accounted for 40.4 percent of global green bean exports, marking the first time their share exceeded the 40 percent threshold. Their exports increased by 12.3 percent to 50.1 million bags, driven largely by Vietnam, whose shipments rose by 26.7 percent to 26.37mln bags.
Coffee prices
Meanwhile, the ICO Composite Indicator Price [I-CIP], which tracks international coffee prices, averaged 261.26 US cents per pound in October 2026, representing a 0.3 percent decline from September.
The overall decline concealed contrasting price movements between the two main coffee varieties, with Arabica prices increasing while Robusta prices fell.
Colombian Milds rose by 0.5 percent to 357.85 US cents per pound, Other Milds increased by 1.7 percent to 334.99 US cents per pound, while Brazilian Naturals gained 1.5 percent to 294.49 US cents per pound.
In contrast, Robusta prices declined by 2 percent to 164.19 US cents per pound.
The ICO attributed the contrasting price movements partly to tight certified Arabica stocks, which supported prices, while improved Robusta supply availability exerted downward pressure on the variety.
Certified Arabica stocks in the United States fell to 0.23mln bags at the end of October, their lowest end-of-month level since January 2002. Meanwhile, certified Robusta stocks in London increased by 29.9 percent to 1.13mln bags, the highest level since July 2025.
On the global supply side, coffee production increased to 183.6mln bags in the 2025/26 coffee year, compared with 175.9mln bags in 2024/25.
Consumption, however, declined by 0.9 percent to 180.6mln bags from 182.2mln bags, resulting in a projected global coffee surplus of 3.0mln bags, compared with a deficit of 6.2mln bags in the previous coffee year.
The ICO said weather conditions, exchange rate movements, supply availability and developments in the futures markets continued to influence international coffee prices.
https://thecooperator.news/kenya-launches-national-coffee-flavour-atlas/
Buy your copy of thecooperator magazine from one of our country-wide vending points or an e-copy on emag.thecooperator.news
