Brazil's total coffee exports rose 3.6% in May 2026 compared to the same month last year, reaching 3.09 million 60kg bags, according to a monthly report from the country's coffee exporters council, Cecafé. The overall growth was driven entirely by a significant jump in Robusta shipments, which successfully compensated for a continued decline in the volume of Arabica exports.
Shipments of green coffee for May grew by 4.2% to 2.73 million bags. Within this category, a stark divergence was evident: Arabica exports fell by 11.9% year-on-year to 2.13 million bags, while Robusta exports surged by 193% to just over 600,000 bags. Despite the higher export volume, total revenue from coffee sales decreased by 16% due to lower international prices. Exports of processed coffee saw a marginal 0.5% dip.
This monthly data reflects a broader shift in Brazil's export profile for the 2026 calendar year. From January to May, total exports were down 12.4% compared to the same period in 2025. This includes a 21.3% drop in Arabica volumes, contrasted with an 86.5% increase in Robusta. In related market news, futures prices for both Arabica and Robusta have rebounded, reportedly influenced by persistent rains hampering the harvest in Brazil and concerns over the impact of the developing El Niño weather pattern.