Yunnan percolating perky profits for coffee farmers

Whole region's 2024 output hits 146,000 metric tons, up 13% year-on-year

Fueled by supply shortages and rising prices of coffee beans worldwide, Southwest China's Yunnan province has jumped on opportunities to grow its business globally and expand exports with high-quality locally harvested beans.

Brazil, the world's largest coffee producing country, accounts for 40 percent of the global coffee supply. The Brazilian Instant Coffee Industry Association recently predicted that coffee bean production volume in the South American nation is expected to decline by 4.4 percent this year due to inclement weather, and the trend may continue until 2026. International coffee prices recently hit a record high not seen in nearly half a century in the wake of the trend.

Yunnan, with a coffee planting history of over 130 years, has become a top growing source in China and is known for high-quality coffee beans and large production volumes. By the end of last year, total coffee output in the province reached 146,000 metric tons, valued at nearly 5 billion yuan ($681 million), up 13 percent year-on-year, said the provincial department of agriculture and rural affairs.