Import coffee prices declined 2.6 percent for year ended May 2023, following large increases

Prices for U.S. imports of coffee fell 2.6 percent from May 2022 to May 2023. The decline followed a series of increases since the spring of 2021. Prices for U.S. imports of coffee were 57 percent higher in May 2023 than in February 2021.

Unfavorable growing conditions and logistical challenges curbed coffee output from top U.S. suppliers in 2021. Erratic weather in Brazil hindered production throughout the year. Shipments of coffee from other major producers like Colombia, Vietnam, and Indonesia were affected by labor shortages and the scarcity of shipping containers during the COVID-19 pandemic. These factors resulted in supply shortfalls and upward price pressure for coffee. The resulting elevated prices persisted through September 2022 before declining as production increased in 2023.

These data are from the International Price program. To learn more, see “U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes — May 2023." We also have more charts on U.S. import and export prices. Import and export price changes may be revised in each of the 3 months after original publication. Green coffee is coffee seeds that have been processed so there is no pulp from the fruit, but the beans have not yet been roasted.