High Demand Drives Significant Canephora Coffee Expansion Into Brazilian States That Historically Have Produced Little Before Now – CoffeeTalk

Canephora coffee varieties, namely conilon and robusta, are experiencing significant expansion in Brazilian states that have historically produced little of these crops, primarily driven by high prices. Brazil continues to be the world’s leading producer of arabica coffee, favored by specialty coffee shops, which tend to pay a premium, thereby compensating for the lower yields of canephora. Currently, Brazil holds the position of the second-largest canephora producer, trailing Vietnam, the largest grower of this bolder coffee variety often utilized in espressos and instant coffee.

Espirito Santo state remains the dominant producer of canephora coffee in Brazil, especially conilon; however, states like Mato Grosso and Minas Gerais have seen notable increases in output since 2020, according to data from Brazil’s food supply and statistics agency, Conab. High market prices have spurred the cultivation of canephora outside its traditional regions, as noted by Ricardo Schneider, president of the coffee chamber of commerce of Minas Gerais, highlighting that rising demand and suitable land for crops contribute to this trend. Although prices for canephora, traded as robusta, hit a record of $5,849 per metric ton last year, they have moderated but are still elevated historically.

Mato Grosso, an expansive agricultural state predominantly known for soybean and corn farming, is looking to boost its coffee production by emulating practices from neighboring Rondonia state. Currently, Mato Grosso’s average productivity of canephora stands at 23 bags per hectare, significantly below Rondonia’s average of 50 bags per hectare. Canephora production in Mato Grosso is projected to reach 298,700 bags this year, an increase from 158,400 bags in 2020.

In the latest crop data from Conab, the state of Ceara is anticipated to collectively produce 118,700 bags of canephora coffee by 2026, up from just 40,000 bags in 2020. Ceara is evaluating opportunities to cultivate both conilon and robusta Amazonica, a variety known from Rondonia, as it is well-positioned near modern transport and port infrastructure, making it a suitable choice for expanding coffee exports. Silvio Carlos Ribeiro Vieira Lima, an agribusiness executive from Ceara, has expressed optimistic projections, hoping for around a thousand hectares planted with conilon coffee by 2026, potentially expanding to 5,000 hectares.

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