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Arabica Coffee Prices Soar Past $3.60 per Pound as Supply Tightens

Global arabica coffee prices surged past $3.60 per pound on Wednesday, hitting record highs as Brazil—the world’s largest producer—faces dwindling supply and uncertainty over its upcoming harvest.

According to market dealers, 70% to 80% of Brazil’s current arabica crop has already been sold, slowing new trades. The country supplies nearly half of the world’s arabica beans, a premium variety favored in high-quality roast and ground coffee blends. Although weather conditions have improved following last year’s severe drought, Brazil’s next crop is projected to be 4.4% smaller than the previous one, as per data from the Brazilian food supply agency Conab.

“Global coffee availability remains constrained,” noted HedgePoint Global Markets on Wednesday. “Sales of Vietnam’s robusta crop are progressing sluggishly, Central American and Colombian arabica beans are taking longer to reach the market, and Brazilian farmers are reluctant to offload additional stock.”

The ripple effects of Brazil’s supply strain are being felt across the coffee market. Arabica futures on the ICE exchange, a global benchmark for coffee pricing, briefly hit an all-time high of $3.6945 per pound before settling at $3.6655—marking a 2.5% increase on the day and a nearly 15% gain for the year. Meanwhile, robusta coffee, a lower-cost variety primarily used for instant coffee, climbed 0.9% to $5,609 per metric ton.

Adding to the market’s tightness, coffee exports from India—the world’s fifth-largest robusta producer—are expected to decline by over 10% in 2025 due to lower yields and reduced carryover stock from last season. Farmers in both India and Vietnam, the top robusta producer, are reportedly holding back sales, betting on further price increases. In Brazil, an estimated 80% to 90% of the current crop has already been sold, according to traders.

A report from brokerage firm Sucden highlights another pressing issue: Brazilian coffee growers are prioritizing domestic sales over dollar-denominated exports, despite higher international prices. This shift comes as local farmers’ financial positions have improved significantly in recent years. Moreover, Brazil’s coffee buffer stocks have plummeted to an estimated 500,000 bags—down sharply from the traditional 8 million—leaving the global market particularly vulnerable to any additional weather disruptions.

Sucden anticipates that the coffee market will log its fourth consecutive annual supply deficit this season, adding further upward pressure on prices.

Beyond coffee, other soft commodities saw notable movements. Raw sugar climbed 1.1% to 19.45 cents per pound, rebounding from a five-month low, while white sugar gained 2.2% to $522.90 per ton. Meanwhile, New York cocoa futures spiked 3.3% to $11,745 per ton, with London cocoa rising 1.6% to 9,138 pounds per ton.

Forbes Middle East Unveils 100 Most Powerful Businesswomen Of 2025

Forbes Middle East has unveiled its much-anticipated 2025 ranking of the region’s top businesswomen, spotlighting influential leaders reshaping industries and driving meaningful transformation. The list was based on business size, individual accomplishments, leadership impact, and corporate social responsibility initiatives.

Top Spot For Hana Al Rostamani

For the third consecutive year, Hana Al Rostamani, Group CEO of First Abu Dhabi Bank (UAE’s largest bank by assets), claims the top position. In addition to retaining her position in the Forbes Middle East ranking, she was also featured on Forbes’ 2024 list of the World’s Most Powerful Women, securing the 60th position globally. Under her leadership, the bank achieved an impressive $3.5 billion in net profits and $334.8 billion in assets in the first nine months of 2024.

Rising Stars In The Top 10

Shaikha Khaled Al Bahar of NBK Group and Shaista Asif, cofounder and Group CEO of PureHealth Holding, take the second and third spots respectively, completing the top three.

The top 10 remains largely unchanged from last year, with Tayba Al Hashemi of ADNOC Offshore, Alisha Moopen of Aster DM Healthcare GCC, and Suzanne Al Anani of Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects (DAEP) making their debut in the top 10. In total, 27 new leaders have joined the list this year.

A Diverse And Powerful Group Of Women

This year’s list features 100 women from 32 sectors and 29 nationalities, underlining the diversity of talent driving the region’s progress. The banking and financial services sector leads with 25 entries, followed by healthcare and technology with nine each, and venture capital with five. Remarkably, 40% of the top 10 women are from the banking and financial services sector. Notably, Shaista Asif (PureHealth Holding) and Alisha Moopen (Aster DM Healthcare GCC) are the only non-Arab women in the top 10.

UAE Leads With 46 Leaders

The UAE continues to dominate, with 46 of the women on the list hailing from the country, solidifying its status as a global business hub. Egypt follows with 18 influential women, and Saudi Arabia claims nine entries. Egyptians lead in representation, followed by Emiratis and Lebanese women.

Empowering Women Through Initiatives

Several of the leaders have focused on upskilling and creating opportunities for women. Susana Rodriguez Puerta launched the ‘sAIdaty’ initiative in collaboration with the Dubai Business Women Council, aimed at providing 500 female council members in the UAE with AI skills. Similarly, Lamia Tazi of SOTHEMA collaborated with the Foundation for Research, Development, and Innovation in Science and Engineering to provide scholarships to PhD students from low-income backgrounds.

Click here for the full list.

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