Plecy
In recent years, Brazil has significantly expanded its production of Robusta coffee, one of the world's most cultivated varieties due to its strength and versatility.
While the country is already known for producing high-quality Arabica coffee, new forecasts indicate that within ten years it could also become the world's leading producer of Robusta. Thanks to its versatility and strong flavour profile, Robusta is gaining an increasingly prominent role in the industry's preferences, responding to the growing global, and especially European, demand for blends and coffees with an intense aroma, with a strong impact in the roasting sector and in the creation of new blends.
Climate change and innovations in agriculture are playing a crucial role in the growth of Robusta coffee in Brazil. The Espírito Santo region, which Qahwa already visits often to source two excellent products ( Brazil Robusta ConillonWashed and Brazil Robusta Conillon), is already among the largest producers, not only because of its ideal climatic conditions, but above all because of its sustainable agricultural practices that improve crop quality and reduce environmental impact.
Brazil aims to overtake Vietnam, the current leader in Robusta coffee production, with steady growth that could lead it to produce more than 30 million bags of Robusta by 2034. Although Vietnam's growth rate is currently negative (-0.2%), Vietnam's leadership in the export market is still very strong, with consolidated volumes. However, Brazilian Robusta exports are rising very fast: in the first eight months of 2024, shipments reached 6.1 million bags, registering an impressive 212% year-on-year increase. This growth highlights Brazil's commitment to meeting global demand and the possibility of overtaking Vietnam in less than a decade.
The year 2024 marks Brazil's third consecutive year of increased coffee production, a rare phenomenon that has occurred only seven times in the country's 144-year history of cultivation. This positive sequence is expected to continue in 2025, thanks mainly to the increased contribution of Robusta coffee, a crop that is growing in a country historically dedicated to Arabica. Experts attribute this success not only to the favourable cycle, but also to improved agricultural techniques, such as post-frost pruning and more extensive irrigation, especially in Robusta crops.
Coffeeroasters, importers and wholesalers are already planning purchasing strategies to optimise supply. Qahwa, committed tosourcing quality coffee for the whole of Europe and attentive to the dynamics of sustainability, is already exploring the opportunities offered by this expansion, with the aim of guaranteeing its customers a product that meets high standards of traceability and freshness.