A Break for Coffee

After oil, coffee is the most traded commodity and the largest source of export earnings in the developing world. Yet coffee farmers are hurting. They are paid record-low prices, due both to a global market glut and to modest consumption growth. Some analysts say coffee, like any other commodity, is...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Foreign policy 2002-09, Vol.132 (132), p.26-27
Main Author: Ramirez-Vallejo, Jorge
Format: Magazinearticle
Language:English
Subjects:
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Coffee
Coffee industry
Consumption
Crop economics
Crops
Developing countries
Earnings
Economic aspects
Economic conditions & forecasts
Economic statistics
Export prices
Exports
Fair trade
Farm exports
Farmers
Food crops
Food processing industry
Industrial agriculture
International
International market
International relations
International trade
Planning
Policy studies
Price level
Prime Numbers
Statistical data
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Summary:After oil, coffee is the most traded commodity and the largest source of export earnings in the developing world. Yet coffee farmers are hurting. They are paid record-low prices, due both to a global market glut and to modest consumption growth. Some analysts say coffee, like any other commodity, is simply subject to the swings of a competitive market. This notion is cold comfort to countries such as Nicaragua and Burundi, which rely heavily on coffee exports. The coffee cartel of the 1980s failed. What now? Producing countries are urging coffee companies to help find ways to stabilize the market, including a fund to help small farmers.
ISSN:0015-7228
1945-2276
DOI:10.2307/3183444