FRESH

Hacker News

Hedge funds to blame for coffee price surge, says Lavazza boss

15 points by amelius

by anenefan

0 subcomment

I think those who surf the web and really like their coffee knew last year wholesale prices for coffee were on the way up. [1] [2] Speculation was something that was bound to happen.
The futures market is supposed to offer product stability / availability but from what I've seen of it, more often it leads to the demise of farmers if they are on contract to a large trading body or conglomerate which likely can still profit at far lower margins.
[1] https://www.gcrmag.com/reality-hit-brazils-coffee-industry-s... (31st Oct 2024)
[2] https://coffeetalk.com/daily-dose/top-news/09-2024/104672/ (Coffee Prices on the Boil as Natural Disasters Decimate Crops - 23rd Sept 2024)

by amelius

0 subcomment

I remember hearing "speculation creates liquidity and makes the market more efficient" ... yeah right. I don't mind refuting nonsense every now and then, but don't touch my coffee!

by amelius

0 subcomment

by alexk307

0 subcomment

But I was told that it was solely Climate Change that was responsible for these price hikes and that it was only going to get worse:
- https://www.nbcnews.com/business/consumer/coffee-costs-clima...
- https://www.inc.com/associated-press/rising-coffee-prices-fu...
- https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/22/business/coffee-prices-cl...
- https://soprissun.com/with-coffee-prices-on-the-rise-experts...