WASHINGTON, April 27, 2011 - Following are selected highlights from a report issued by a U.S. Department of Agriculture attache in Ecuador:
"Coffee production for MY 2011/12 will remain steady at 650,000 60-Kg. bags. This is the result of increasingly higher yields resulting from the adoption of better agricultural practices by young new entrepreneurial farmers, offset by
overall decaying plantations that urgently need to be renovated.
Since 2005, Ecuador has renovated or added almost 16,000 hectares dedicated to coffee but has switched production of at least 12,000 ha.
Ecuador's local consumption grows in accordance to population growth. Recently consumption has increased due to a notable presence of specialized coffee retail outlets and aggressive advertising to promote coffee consumption. Domestic consumption is forecast at 212,000 bags in MY 2011/12, 94 percent of which is consumed as soluble or instant coffee.
Coffee exports for MY 2011/12 are forecast at 1,266,000 bags, 69 percent of which are soluble and instant coffee products. In order to meet the industry's demand of Robusta coffee beans, in calendar year MY 2010/11, Ecuador would have imported 700,000 bags of Robusta beans, most of which enter Ecuador under a regime for industrialization and re-export.
Ecuador's imports of Robusta coffee in MY 2011/12 are expected
to grow to 750,000 bags."
Attache reports are not official USDA data.
Source : Reuters
