December 4, 2014

By the end of the decade it is predicted that Robusta coffee beans will gain more global market share than the more expensive Arabica beans as the popularity of quick, cheap, instant coffee spreads across areas of Asia. Global coffee demand will climb from the current 150 million 60kg bags to 175 million 60kg bags by 2020, mostly on the increase in demand for Robusta beans – giving the industry a value of $50 billion according to the International Coffee Organization. Industry officials state that Asian consumers particularly in India and China are shifting from drinking tea to instant coffee upon media campaigns equating instant coffee with social status and success. The growth potential in these markets is significant as the current per capita personal consumption rate remains as low as five cups per year, compared with over 1,000 cups per year in some European countries. These emerging trends are worrisome to large coffee producers in South and Central America such as Colombia and Mexico that have focused primarily on producing the more expensive Arabica beans.

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