Fairtrade International raises minimum coffee prices for Arabica and Robusta beans
Fairtrade International has increased minimum coffee prices while maintaining existing premiums to strengthen farmer incomes and improve supply chain resilience.
GLOBAL – Fairtrade International has announced higher minimum prices for Arabica and Robusta coffee, increasing the price floor for farmers following an extensive review of production costs and market conditions.
The revised prices will take effect on December 1 following consultations with farmers, cooperatives, traders and other industry stakeholders. The decision was approved by Fairtrade International’s standards committee, which includes representatives from producer organisations and commercial partners.
Under the new structure, the minimum price for washed Arabica coffee will rise by 11%, increasing from US$1.80 per pound to US$2.00 per pound. According to Fairtrade International, washed Arabica accounts for more than 80% of all Fairtrade-certified coffee sold globally.
The minimum price for natural Robusta coffee will increase by approximately 8%, rising from US$1.20 per pound to US$1.30 per pound. The organisation noted that natural Robusta represents less than 10% of total Fairtrade coffee sales.
Fairtrade also confirmed increases for natural Arabica and washed Robusta coffee, which will rise by US$0.20 per pound and US$0.10 per pound, respectively.
At the same time, the organisation decided to maintain the Fairtrade Premium at US$0.20 per pound and the organic differential at US$0.40 per pound. Fairtrade International said historically high coffee prices and the need to provide predictability for producers and traders influenced the decision.
The Fairtrade Minimum Price acts as a safeguard for farmers when global market prices fall below the established threshold. However, the organisation noted that coffee prices have remained above $2.00 per pound since March 2024.
Fairtrade International also announced plans to conduct comprehensive reviews of coffee pricing every four years.
Colleen Anunu, senior advisor for coffee at Fairtrade International, said the pricing framework plays an important role in supporting farming communities.
“Coffee farmers want to earn a dignified livelihood. The Fairtrade pricing structure is a critical safety net for cooperatives that supports farmer resilience in the face of climate change and emerging regulatory pressures and also supports the security of global supply chains,” Anunu said.
The organisation explained that the review was based on production cost data collected from 57 cooperatives across 13 countries during the 2023-2024 crop season.
Fairtrade added that more than 600 stakeholders participated in the consultation process before the final pricing decision was reached.
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