Global Market Report: Coffee and sustainability
This Global Market Report examines global coffee production, trade, and consumption trends alongside price volatility, climate risks, and regulatory shifts like the EU's Deforestation Regulation. It provides an in-depth look at voluntary sustainability standards in the coffee sector, tracking certified production growth, regional demand patterns, corporate sourcing commitments, and the persistent gap between sustainable supply and demand.
Key Messages
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Coffee production has remained flat since 2019, but the world keeps drinking more of it, so the safety cushion is shrinking. And prices aren't just spiking occasionally anymore; between climate chaos, trade tensions, and shipping delays, volatility is becoming the new normal.
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Voluntary sustainability standard–compliant coffee reached 24%–42% of global production in 2023, but only about 51% of certified coffee is actually sold as certified. Closing this supply-demand gap requires stronger buyer commitments, better traceability, and greater consumer awareness.
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Traditional markets like Europe and North America still dominate coffee consumption, but Asia-Pacific is catching up fast. China's consumption has jumped nearly 150% in a decade, and Indonesia's has tripled since before the COVID-19 pandemic.
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The EU's Deforestation Regulation and Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive are pushing exporters toward traceability and responsible sourcing. Major roasters like Nestlé and Starbucks now source over 85% sustainably, though smaller players still lag behind.
Coffee is one of the most widely traded and consumed agricultural commodities worldwide, sustaining the livelihoods of some 25 million farmers and employing millions of people throughout the value chain. In this report, we look at the broader growth in production and consumption trends and take a deep dive into the specific market growth in voluntary sustainability standard–certified coffee.
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