USDA Attache: Vietnam’s 2022-2023 Coffee Crop Pegged at 30.93 Million Bags.

CoffeeNetwork (New York) – The latest report from the USDA pegged Vietnam’s 2022-2033 coffee crop at 30.93 million bags (GBE).

Results of the harvest of the MY 2021/22 coffee crop, which was completed in January 2022, clearly showed higher production compared to the previous year. Improved weather conditions during the 2021 dry season combined with timely precipitation contributed to higher yield, with bigger bean size and/or higher number of cherries per branch reported in the major coffee growing areas in the Central Highlands. At the end of the coffee harvest, coffee traders estimated MY 2021/22 production was from 5 to 11 percent higher than MY 2020/21. Due to favorable weather conditions, and trader estimates of the completed harvest, Post revised its estimate for MY 2021/22 Robusta production up to 30.48 million bags (GBE) and raised the total coffee production estimate to 31.58 million bags - an increase of almost 9 percent from MY 2020/21.

Rains have arrived earlier this year, supporting growth of the MY 2022/23 coffee crop in the Central Highlands. According to the Vietnam Meteorological and Hydrological Administration’s forecasts, there is a 50-60 percent chance that the La Niña phenomenon will remain until this summer, and then transition to ENSO (El Niño–Southern Oscillation) neutral conditions. This led to wetter than normal weather in the first four months of 2022, and therefore higher than average precipitation in many parts of the country, including the major coffee growing areas. The USDA Global Agricultural and Disaster Assessment System’s (GADAS) data showed that monthly accumulated rainfall from January to March 2022 was higher than last year and higher than normal in Dak Lak, Dak Nong and Lam Dong Provinces. Although it was at the same level or lower than last year, it was still higher than normal in Gia Lai and Kon Tum Provinces.

Considering abundant rainfall during the flowering and cherry setting stages, and favorable climate forecasts for the harvesting stage in the Central Highlands, against increased costs of inputs, Post forecasts Vietnam MY 2022/23 total coffee production at 30.93 million bags (GBE), 2 percent lower than MY 2021/22, including 29.83 million bags of Robusta. Post forecasts MY 2022/23 Arabica production at 1.10 million bags, unchanged from last year, with expansion in the Northern region offsetting contraction in Lam Dong province where farmers had switched to Robusta and other crops due to low prices of Arabica. Some industry contacts forecast that MY 2022/23 coffee production will remain on the high side, but at 2-5 percent lower than the previous year.

CONSUMPTION
Vietnam’s agricultural sector was heavily hit by COVID-19 outbreaks which led to severe supply chain disruptions in 2021. General Statistics Office’s (GSO) figures note Vietnam’s annual GDP growth rate in 2021 at 2.58 percent - its lowest level in ten years. Lockdowns and restrictions on both domestic and international tourism hampered growth in the food and beverage, and the travel service sectors in 2021. According to GSO, the accommodation and food and beverage service sectors declined 19 percent, and the travel industry saw a 60 percent decline in revenue compared with 2020. Beginning in October 2021, most business and production activities resumed as Vietnam slowly reopened its economy, and international tourism just resumed in mid-March 2022. As the number of COVID detections dropped significantly from over 100,000 cases/day in March to a few thousands in early May 2022, dining-out business and domestic tourism were recently back to normal. Therefore, Post revised MY 2021/22 domestic consumption forecast slightly up to 3.20 million bags.

Exports
Vietnam coffee exports in the first six months of MY 2021/22 increased by 11 percent to 14.17 million bags, according to Vietnam Customs’ data.

Some industry contacts noted that Vietnam coffee exports were strong in the first six months of MY 2021/22, especially in March 2022 when exports jumped over 40 percent higher than the same period last year, as logistics constraints were gradually improved. High container freights and prolonged container shortages had hampered exports and led to stock build-up in the past year (VM2021-0096). In order to cope with container shipping constraints, international coffee traders recently started to ship green beans out of Vietnam destined for European markets in bulk vessels. The amount of bulk shipment could reach 5,000-12,000 tons each sailing. Coffee traders reported that average shipping costs in March 2022 were still nearly double the costs of the same period last year, although they slightly reduced from the past year’s peak. Spot container freights to Europe are currently declining, supporting exports, while those to the United States are still at high levels.

Last but not least, high prices of Arabica resulted in Robusta being added more generously into roasted blends, driving up demands for Vietnam Robusta. Therefore, Post revised its forecast of Vietnam MY 2021/22 exports up to 27 million bags. While the Vietnamese Dong has been stable, the Brazilian Real recently weakened. As Brazil will start their harvest of an on-year crop soon, these currency dynamics could prompt Brazil to sell more in the coming months, competing with Vietnam Robusta in MY 2022/23. In addition, coffee traders noted that the upcoming Indonesia coffee crop is developing well and offers for delivery in 2022 are currently competitive. Post forecasts MY 2022/23 total coffee exports at 26.65 million bags, lower than the previous year.

Green Bean Exports
Vietnam green bean exports increased approximately 14 percent to 12.13 million bags in the first half of MY 2021/22 (Figure 3). As mentioned above, improved logistics with initial bulk shipments, high stocks and increased demands for Robusta in roasted blends supported exports of Vietnam green bean in the first quarter of 2022. Therefore, Post revised its forecast of Vietnam MY 2021/22 green bean exports up to 24 million bags. Post forecasts MY 2022/23 green bean exports at 23.50 million bags, slightly lower than MY 2021/22 but higher than MY 2020/2021 on steady global demands and competition.

Soluble and Roasted Exports
Post revised forecasts of MY 2021/22 soluble and roasted coffee exports up to 3 million bags, and forecasts MY 2022/23 soluble and roasted coffee exports at 3.15 million bags, higher than the previous year, on expansion in processed coffee production.

Imports
In MY 2022/23, the revival of coffee chains, and emerging demands for specialty coffee will continue to support imports of high-quality Arabica beans from Columbia, Kenya, Indonesia, Ethiopia etc., and processed products from Europe and other countries. Based on Trade Data Monitor, LLC’s statistics, world exports of coffee beans to Vietnam in the beginning months of MY 2021/22 reduced sharply. The downtrend could be the impact of last year’s down economy which led to temporarily lower demands for premium products. Post revised its forecast of Vietnam MY 2021/22 coffee imports down to 550 thousand bags and forecasts MY 2022/23 coffee imports at 580 thousand bags.

STOCKS
Post revised MY 2021/22 stocks down to 5.59 million bags on higher exports which is more than offsetting higher production in MY 2021/22. According to industry contacts, Vietnam coffee visible stocks by March 2022 were historically high at 10.5-11.8 million bags, including 3-4 million bags sitting in bonded warehouses. Lower stocks in Europe and higher stocks in Vietnam show that demand and supply are strong. Provided that logistics bottle necks continue to improve, Vietnam will be able to keep the current exporting and destocking pace in MY 2021/22. Post forecasts MY 2022/23 stocks at 7.15 million bags due to high carry-over and competition amongst the key exporting countries.

Alexis Rubinstein