Global Coffee Prices Surge to Their Highest Since 1977
Global Coffee Crisis: Arabica Prices Hit 47-Year High Amid Supply Chain Chaos and Climate Woes
Editorial Team (ET)June 13, 2025
Coffee prices have skyrocketed to levels unseen in over four decades, threatening to disrupt the global market and push consumer costs even higher. Arabica coffee, the preferred bean for specialty brews, has surged 70% this year, driven by a perfect storm of climate challenges, supply chain disruptions, and speculative market activity. This steep increase reflects the fragility of the global coffee industry and signals further economic strain for both producers and consumers.
The rally in Arabica futures reached a fever pitch this week, climbing as much as 3.9% to $3.17 per pound in New York. This marks the highest price since 1977, with prices showing no immediate signs of stabilizing. While bullish market sentiment has contributed to this growth, the underlying factors are deeply rooted in environmental and logistical crises. Brazil, the world’s largest producer of Arabica beans, has faced one of its worst droughts in recent memory. The dry conditions devastated crops during critical growth periods, leaving supply chains scrambling to meet demand. Compounding the issue, Brazilian farmers have sold off much of their current harvest, tightening supplies until the next growing season begins in May.
The situation in Vietnam, the largest producer of robusta coffee, adds another layer of complexity. The country experienced severe dryness during its growing season, followed by heavy rains that disrupted the harvest. This dual impact has significantly reduced robusta output, pushing its prices up by 88% in London markets this year. Traditionally considered the budget-friendly alternative to Arabica, robusta’s price surge reflects a crisis that is reverberating across all tiers of the coffee market. As costs climb for both premium and budget options, cafés and roasters are left with little choice but to pass the burden onto consumers.
Global supply chain issues have further exacerbated the crisis. Shipping delays, rising freight costs, and logistical bottlenecks have created additional hurdles for coffee exporters. European regulations, including new deforestation rules, have introduced uncertainties that add to compliance costs for producers. Meanwhile, companies like Nestlé, the world’s largest coffee maker, have announced plans to increase prices and reduce package sizes to mitigate their rising costs. These measures highlight the cascading effects of the crisis on businesses and consumers alike.
The speculative market activity has also played a significant role in driving up prices. Data from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission reveals that fund managers continue to hold large net-long positions on Arabica futures, betting on further price increases. While speculative trading is not uncommon in commodity markets, the scale of current bullish wagers underscores the widespread belief that prices will remain high. Panic buying among traders, spurred by rising hedging costs and fears of producer defaults, has further fueled the rally.
The broader coffee belt is also grappling with weather-induced challenges. Colombia, the second-largest producer of Arabica beans, is still recovering from drought conditions caused by El Niño earlier this year. Recent heavy rains have raised fears of crop damage in other key coffee-growing regions, including Costa Rica and Honduras. These compounded issues have created a precarious supply scenario, where even small disruptions could have outsized impacts on global markets.
For consumers, the implications are clear: the price of a daily cup of coffee is likely to rise. Industry experts warn that these increases may persist as producers struggle to recover from multiple poor harvests and navigate ongoing logistical challenges. In many cases, sellers have already raised prices and removed discounts to protect their margins. This trend, coupled with higher production costs, points to a sustained period of elevated prices across the coffee industry.
Looking ahead, the outlook remains uncertain. While the market’s 14-day relative-strength index suggests overbought conditions that could lead to a short-term correction, the long-term trajectory appears less optimistic. Concerns about Brazil’s output for the 2025–26 season, ongoing climate challenges, and evolving regulatory landscapes suggest that volatility will continue to define the coffee market. The convergence of these factors underscores the vulnerabilities of a commodity that billions of people rely on every day.
The coffee market’s current plight serves as a stark reminder of how interconnected global supply chains can unravel under pressure. From the fields of Brazil and Vietnam to the cups of consumers worldwide, every link in the chain is feeling the strain. As the industry braces for more turbulence, one thing is certain: the cost of enjoying a cup of coffee is set to rise, and it may never return to the prices we once took for granted.
