Coffee has developed into a significant economic factor over the years. It is considered a true export hit and is only exceeded by oil production.
Coffee in worldwide trade
Around 148 million sacks of coffee beans are produced annually (as of 2016). Every sack weighs 60 kilograms. The extension takes place especially in developing and emerging countries near the equator. The largest coffee producers represent Brazil, Vietnam, Indonesia, Colombia and Ethiopia. The latter is the country of origin of the coffee.
Coffee is enjoying global popularity and is therefore also strongly traded in all possible countries. Germany, the USA and Brazil are very far ahead. In the Federal Republic alone, more than half a million tons of coffee are sold every year. This means that the individual citizen comes to 6.4 kilograms of coffee beans annually, which corresponds to a consumption of around 150 liters of coffee. The drink is often consumed in a wide variety of variations. In addition to the classic black coffee, cappuccinos, latte macchiatos and all kinds of milk coffee are particularly popular. Even if the trade with coffee has always experienced small drops in sales, steady export growth has been visible over the years. So more and more is being drunk by the enjoyable hot drink.
The increasing economic factor of coffee does not only have good news. The production and conditions in the cultivated countries often throw a bad light on the drink that was loved so much. Even if the trend is increasingly about organic coffee and fair trade, this part only makes up almost 1.5 percent of the extension. Around 140 liters of water are also used for normal coffee and organic coffee. This includes the entire manufacturing process – from cultivation, roasting and shipping to the end of the end. In order to be able to cover the immense demand for coffee, more and more coffee farmers opt for monocultures. For example, large areas are cleared in the growing areas in order to be able to grow robusta coffee there. This not only harms the small farmers, who get into the price war with large producers, but also affects the biodiversity. The native animals there no longer find places to nest and have to move on a narrowing habitat.
Coffee as an economic factor and livelihood
Throw and developing countries such as Ethiopia, Brazil and Colombia build coffee on a strong gross domestic product. Without this economic factor, strong financial crises would quickly occur. More than 25 million people work in the coffee industry worldwide. If you include their family members, the coffee forms the livelihood for approx. 100 million people. The economic factor of coffee is therefore an important pillar for countries all over the world – unfortunately, in addition to its great and enjoyable taste, the coffee also brings with it many problems.
