Brazil generated approximately US$14.7 billion from coffee exports in the 2024/25 crop year, the highest revenue in the historical series since 1990, while 2025/26 export revenue was about US$14.6 billion, the second highest despite lower volumes.
Record revenue on fewer bags
Brazil remained the world’s leading coffee exporter in the 2025/26 crop year, exporting coffee to approximately 125 countries and reinforcing its role as a core supplier across both premium and mass markets. Export earnings reached about US$14.7 billion in the 2024/25 crop year, a record in the historical series since 1990, and approximately US$14.6 billion in 2025/26, about 1% lower than the previous year.
However, this revenue peak came despite a significant drop in physical exports. Shipments in the 2025/26 crop year fell to about 38.46 million 60-kilogram bags, a decline of 15.7% compared with the previous cycle. The country sold fewer bags but earned more per unit. This highlights how tighter global supply and quality gains are translating into structurally higher prices.
According to data from the Brazilian Coffee Exporters Council (Cecafé) reported by national outlets, the 2025/26 crop year saw export volumes fall about 15.7% to around 38.46 million 60-kg bags due to constrained supply, while high prices kept export revenue near a record at roughly US$14.6 billion. When export volumes fall but revenue rises, the implication for investors is clear: price, not quantity, is driving sector earnings.
Coffee’s contribution to Brazil’s external accounts is now sizeable. Coffee exports generated approximately US$14.7 billion in foreign exchange in the 2024/25 crop year and about US$14.6 billion in the 2025/26 crop year. This places the crop among Brazil’s most relevant agribusiness export earners. For portfolio and strategic investors, this reinforces coffee as a core revenue stream rather than a niche commodity exposure.
Pricing power, quality upgrades and global reach
The revenue record was driven primarily by higher prices and investment in quality, rather than expansion in volume. Brazilian exporters benefited from an environment in which constrained global supply pushed benchmark prices higher. Upgrades in processing and bean quality also allowed sellers to capture more value per bag.
Reports from government and sector bodies show that the value of each exported bag rose sharply, compensating for the lower shipped volume. Brazil maintained its position as the world’s largest coffee exporter while average export prices rose; Cecafé data show the average price per exported bag reaching a record about US$379.48 in 2025/26, 17.4% higher than in the previous crop year, reflecting strong pricing power.
Brazil’s agronomic advantages remain central to this position. Major producing regions such as Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo and São Paulo offer suitable altitude, soil and climate for large-scale, year-round coffee production. Meanwhile, the country’s dual focus on Arabica and Robusta provides exposure to both gourmet and industrial demand, anchoring sales across price bands and geographies.
Market diversification also adds resilience. With exports spread across approximately 125 destination countries, Brazil is not reliant on a single buyer or region. This breadth helps smooth demand shocks and supports bargaining power in contract negotiations. That is a key factor when prices are elevated and buyers seek security of supply.
For investors tracking Brazil coffee exports, the combination of higher unit prices, record revenue and broad market reach points to a sector capable of generating strong cash flows. This holds even in years of weaker harvest or cautious selling by farmers. Cecafé has reported that despite lower volumes in the 2025/26 crop year, revenue remained close to record levels due to higher prices, underscoring coffee’s importance to Brazil’s agribusiness exports; any specific forecast for 2026 shipment levels should be attributed only if and when Cecafé publishes it.
Looking ahead, investors should watch three signals: the pace of recovery in export volumes after the 2025/26 cycle’s drop; the sustainability of elevated international coffee prices as new crops come to market; and ongoing investments in quality and logistics that help Brazil retain its premium and mainstream segments. If prices stay firm while volumes normalise, Brazil coffee exports could extend their role as a high-margin anchor of the country’s trade balance.
