Specialty varieties key to upgrading industry

The coffee market in Yunnan province has seen a favorable shift in pricing dynamics during the latest harvest season, as its coffee beans were sold at a higher price than that offered by international traders, with the province's robust promotion of specialty coffee being a key contributing factor.

The output of Yunnan coffee that accounts for around 1 percent of the global total has posed challenges for its influence on the international supply-demand dynamics and pricing. Coffee from Yunnan has been sold at prices lower than the New York futures price, a standard reference for the global coffee market.

Against this backdrop, industry experts said that specialty coffee can serve as a promising direction for the development of Yunnan coffee, distinguishing it from commercial-grade counterparts.