MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

China surges as new major destination for Brazil's coffee exports

“The opening of coffee shops encourages the youth to drink coffee in various ways,” said Nelson Carvalhaes.

Brazilian exports of coffee to China rose 23.1 annually during the first five months of 2019, according to a Brazilian Council of Coffee Exporters (Cecafé) report.

The survey showed that Brazil shipped 88,179 bags of coffee to China from January to May this year.

Cecafé President Nelson Carvalhaes underscored the role of young Asian consumers and Brazil's interest in increasing sales to China.

“The opening of coffee shops encourages the youth to drink coffee in various ways,” said Carvalhaes, referring the rapid development of coffee shops like Luckin Coffee and Starbucks in Chinese cities and their attractiveness to the new generations. “We also have the example of South Korea, where the barista career is having a boom,” he added.

Carvalhaes also said the public and private sectors in Brazil seek to develop markets in China. “Undoubtedly we want to grow in our main trading partner's market.”

“Brazil can offer volume and quality that can meet the demands of different markets,” he went on in an interview with China's Xinhua news agency.

Brazil produces 38 per cent of the world's coffee and exported 41.1 million bags between June 2018 and June 2019.