Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/949203
16 STiR coffee and tea / Issue 1, 2018 (February / March) Coffee Report: Dan Shryock Coffee Prices End Year Low The composite indicator of coffee prices averaged $1.14 per pound in December, down 2.8% from November, ending the year on a 22-month low, according to the International Coffee Organization (ICO). In January 2018 the composite rose by 1.4% to $115.60 per pound, a 1.4% increase. Prices for all groups were off at year end with the monthly robusta average falling 4.1%. Robusta recovered somewhat in January, rising $1.2%. Colombian milds were down 3.2% in December but gained 1.5% in January. Global shipments in December totaled 10.62 million 60-kilo bags, up 0.7% compared to December 2016. Shipments for the first quarter of the coffee harvest are down 6.7% to 28.36 million bags. Global coffee output for 2017-18, meanwhile, is preliminarily estimated at 158.93 million bags, 0.8% higher than last year. Arabica production is provi- sionally estimated at 97.32 million bags. Robusta production is tentatively estimated to be 8.2% higher than last year at 60.09 million bags. That estimate, in large part, is based on expected growth in Vietnam. SCA Seeks Research Input The Specialty Coffee Association is asking for help to better define its research agenda to focus on topics useful to its members. To do this, the SCA Research Center has launched an online survey. The survey is designed to measure interest in a variety of research topics. Completing the survey takes only a few minutes. The center's advisory council and staff will use the results to prioritize its future research. Link to survey: www.surveymonkey.com/r/Z27FK8P CHINA Peet's Opens in Shanghai Peet's Coffee & Teas, the California- based specialty coffee company, opened for business in Shanghai, China, in November 2017 marking the company's first international location. The 3,900-square-foot coffee bar will include a roastery. The opening marks the formation of Peet's Coffee China, an independent venture between Peet's Coffee and Hillhouse Capital, an international investment firm. The effort will be led by Vivian Zhang, c.e.o. of Peet's China. "In response to the growing demand in China for premium craft coffee, Peet's Coffee is thrilled to bring to the region its handcrafted mastery and to welcome new fans into the Peetnik community," Zhang said. "When (founder) Alfred Peet opened his first coffee bar in Berkeley, California in 1966, he established our long-standing commitment to roasting the highest-quality coffee and Peet's continues to stay true to that in China." Coffee will be roasted on Probat equipment and espresso machines are provided by La Marzocco. "Expanding internationally is a natural progression of our United States success and Peet's recognizes that China is a fast-growing market with a flourishing base of coffee lovers seeking distinctive experiences," said Shawn Conway, Peet's c.o.o. "We are very excited by China's coffee market momentum and for the opportunity to cater to their young consumers eager to discover exceptionally fresh, hand- roasted coffee." COLOMBIA 'Let's Talk Coffee' in Huila Global stakeholders from across the supply chain will meet in Huila, Colom- bia, Sept. 20-24 for the latest edition of Let's Talk Coffee. The event, presented by Sustainable Harvest importers, brings farmers, roasters, government leaders, and others together to discuss issues facing the coffee industry. Topics scheduled this year include blockchain and AI technol- ogy, processing innovations, climate change and agriculture, public-private partnerships, and more. Learn more: www.letstalkcoffee.org ETHIOPIA Ethiopia Reports Coffee Exports Ethiopian coffee exports totaled more than $334 million during the final five months of 2017, a government agency said. The announcement by the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Development and Marketing Authority, reported by News Ghana, stated more than 92,000 metric tons of coffee entered the global market in that period. Germany, Saudi Arabia, the United States, Belgium, Sudan, and South Korea are among the top importers of Ethio- pian coffee and account for about 86% of the total coffee exports from the country, one of Africa's largest produc- ers of arabica. GERMANY Probat Anniversary Symposium In celebration of its 150th anniversary, Probat will host several international events this year. The highlight is the Probat Coffee Symposium in September, a two-day meeting that brings together leaders across the international coffee industry. "Probat stands for a great passion for coffee combined with a fascination with technology," Probat c.e.o. Wim Abbing said in announcing the symposium. "Our products and services have been shaping the market for one and a half centuries Peet's opens its first mainland China coffee bar and roastery in Shanghai