Brazilian Coffee Exports Surge to Record Levels in China
Brazil, the world’s leading coffee producer, has experienced a remarkable increase in its coffee exports to China in recent years, reaching a historic peak in 2023. The first half of 2024 saw over 510,000 bags of Brazilian coffee, each weighing 60 kg, being shipped to Chinese consumers, indicating a growing appetite for Brazilian coffee in the Chinese market.
One of the coffee farms contributing to this surge in exports is the “Santa Izabel Fazenda” located in Minas Gerais state in southeastern Brazil. This farm boasts around 42,000 coffee trees bearing coffee cherries of 40 different varieties. Marquinho Florezi, the farm’s manager, shared insights into the meticulous processes involved in producing high-quality coffee. “It’s a good harvest this year, and we expect top-notch coffee due to favorable weather conditions during maturation. After harvesting, we carefully wash and sort the coffee beans by color, ensuring only ripe, green, and drier ones are selected. The beans are then placed in barrels for fermentation, which lasts for 100 hours. This batch is the first to complete fermentation, followed by drying for another seven to ten days,” explained Florezi.
The processed coffee from farms like Santa Izabel Fazenda is typically sent to export companies for distribution. One such company began exporting coffee to China in 2017 with a modest volume of just 600 bags per year. However, as the demand for Brazilian coffee grew in China, so did the exports. Victor Vuolo, the manager of the export company, noted the significant increase in coffee exports to China. “Last year alone, we shipped approximately 10,000 bags of coffee to China, showcasing the rising popularity of Brazilian coffee in the Chinese market,” Vuolo stated.
According to data from the Council of Coffee Exporters of Brazil, Brazil’s coffee exports to China have seen a substantial rise over the years. In 2017, the country exported less than 100,000 bags of coffee to China, but by 2023, this number had skyrocketed to nearly 1.5 million sacks. Marcos Antonio Matos, the general director of the council, emphasized the growing importance of China as a key market for Brazilian coffee. “China, which previously ranked 22nd in Brazil’s coffee exports, has now climbed to the sixth position, underscoring the significant growth in demand. Coffee has become a cultural symbol in China, and Brazil aims to be at the forefront of fostering the coffee culture in the country,” Matos highlighted.
Chinese State Councilor Visit to Serbia
During a recent visit to Serbia, Chinese State Councilor Shen Yiqin met with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and engaged in discussions with Prime Minister Milos Vucevic. The visit focused on strengthening the bilateral ties between China and Serbia across various sectors, including sports and infrastructure development.
President Vucic expressed Serbia’s deep appreciation for the strong friendship between Serbia and China, emphasizing the willingness to enhance cooperation in all areas for mutual growth and prosperity. He highlighted the importance of deepening Belt and Road cooperation with China as a strategic initiative for advancing infrastructure projects and economic partnerships.
Prime Minister Vucevic echoed President Vucic’s sentiments, affirming the Serbian government’s commitment to implementing the agreements reached between the two countries. He underscored the significance of fostering a shared future between China and Serbia through robust exchanges and collaboration in diverse fields, solidifying the enduring friendship between the two nations.
State Councilor Shen reaffirmed China’s commitment to nurturing the bilateral relationship with Serbia and reiterated the importance of implementing the shared vision of the two countries’ leadership. She emphasized building a strong China-Serbia partnership in the new era, focusing on enhancing exchanges and cooperation across various sectors to deepen the bond between the two nations.
The meeting between Chinese State Councilor Shen Yiqin and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic reflects the growing synergy and mutual respect between China and Serbia, paving the way for enhanced collaboration and strategic partnerships in the future.