Asia Coffee-Domestic prices inch higher in Vietnam on scarce supply

HANOI/BANDAR LAMPUNG, Indonesia - Domestic coffee prices in Vietnam edged higher this week on scarce supply, while trading activities in Indonesia remained sluggish, traders said on Thursday. 

Women sort coffee beans at a coffee factory in Hanoi, Vietnam September 29, 2015. Photo: Reuters

Farmers in the Central Highlands, Vietnam’s largest coffee-growing area, sold coffee COFVN-DAK at VND31,000-32,000 ($1.32-$1.37) per kg, compared to VND29,500 two weeks ago. 

“Not so many traders are buying at these prices as we can’t make any profits, while farmers are reluctant to sell in anticipation of higher prices,” said a trader based in the coffee belt.

“Farmers have already sold at least 85% of their beans,” he added. 

Traders in Vietnam offered 5% black and broken grade 2 robusta COFVN-G25-SAI at $200 premium per metric ton to the July contract on Thursday, higher than the $150 premium of two weeks ago. 

Another trader said buyers could turn to Indonesia for fresh beans which will come in bulk in June but the prices there would not likely be cheaper. 

Traders in Vietnam offered 5% black and broken grade 2 robusta COFVN-G25-SAI at $200 premium per metric ton to the July contract on Thursday, higher than the $150 premium of two weeks ago. 

July robusta coffee settled up $1 at $1,201 per metric ton on Wednesday.

Indonesian robusta beans in Lampung province were offered with $260-$270 premium to July contract this week, according to a trader in Sumatra, narrowing from $300-$310 premium two weeks ago, as new supply of coffee started coming in. 

“Some lowland areas in Lampung have started harvesting, but the volume is not much yet. We expects the big harvest to start in June,” the trader said. 

Indonesia exported 11,171 metric tons of robusta coffee beans from Sumatra’s Lampung province in April, more than double the exports in the same month last year, local trade data showed. ($1 = VND23,425)