Major Asian coffee markets see subdued trading this week on low stocks

HANOI/BANDAR LAMPUNG: Vietnamese coffee markets were subdued this week, with bulk supplies not reaching traders as beans were still in the drying process, while Indonesia was muted as harvest season ended in the country, traders said on Thursday.

Farmers in the Central Highlands, Vietnam’s largest coffee-growing area, sold beans at 40,000 dong to 41,700 dong ($1.70-$1.77) per kg, little changed from last week’s 40,100 dong to 42,000 dong range. “Beans are still in the drying process and it may take a month for them to fully dry,” a trader based in the coffee belt said. “Farmers are under selling pressure before the holiday season to cash in but beans are not ready yet.”

Farmers have already harvested 90% of their crop, traders said. Another trader from the region said the market was quiet as, there was not much supply and buyers were not really keen.