Good morning
I read this article this morning (08/12/24) has good application with this thread ... and coffee lovers like rcw1.
Have a very nice Sunday.
Kind regards
rcw1
Alex Gluyas
AFR Markets reporter
Updated Dec 4, 2024 – 4.31pm,first published at Dec 3, 2024 – 8.13pm
The surge in coffee prices to the highest level since 1977 could force more consumers to save money by making their daily brew at home, in a boon for ASX-listed small appliance maker Breville.
That is according to Citi analysts who warned the rally in arabica futures, which hit a 47-year high of $US3.35 a pound on Friday, will result in higher costs for cafes that would likely be passed on to consumers. Nestlé, the world’s biggest coffee maker, said last month that it would raise prices and make packs smaller to blunt the impact of the more expensive beans.
Arabica prices jumped more than 30 per cent in November.
Arabica – the main type of coffee consumed in Australia – has
surged about 70 per cent this year, making it one of the strongest performing commodities alongside cocoa, for which prices have more than doubled.
Citi said this would be positive for the at-home coffee market as it may bring new customers to the category, benefiting Breville given the popularity of the coffee machines it sells.
“The price of coffee at cafes around the world is at risk of rising from here, which could be positive for Breville as consumers may be more inclined to start making coffee at home to save money, particularly given ongoing cost-of-living pressures globally,” said Citi analyst Sam Teeger.
Shares in Breville have rallied 32 per cent over the past six months, helped by a
bumper result in the 2024 financial year. Robust coffee machines sales in the US boosted Breville’s revenue to a record $1.53 billion and propelled earnings to the top end of guidance for the period.
Citi acknowledged that higher coffee prices could take longer to filter through to Breville than other brands given its “premium market position” – their coffee machines are typically the third or fourth brand that consumers buy.
Still, the broker has a price target of $36.51 on the stock, an increase of 7.5 per cent from current levels.
Perfect storm
The rampant rally in coffee, one of the most traded commodities in the world, has been fuelled by concerns about adverse weather in top producer Brazil. The country experienced its worst drought in 70 years during August and September, followed by heavy rains in October, sparking fears that next year’s flowering crop could fail.
In June, the US Department of Agriculture forecast 2024/25 coffee production at 69.9 million (60kg) bags. But their latest update last month reduced that figure to 66.4 million bags, with further downgrades expected when Brazil’s National Supply Company releases its next update.
Prices of the cheaper robusta variety of coffee have also surged 86 per cent this year following a challenging growing season in top producer Vietnam. The country was hit by dry weather at the start of the season and heavy rains as the harvest started.
Coffee is grown in a relatively narrow tropical band, with key producers including Brazil, Vietnam, Colombia, and Ethiopia. This concentration makes it vulnerable to adverse weather, especially in Brazil and Vietnam, which together account for around 56 per cent of global production.
“The rally [in coffee prices] has been driven by several factors, the most important being the risk to supply triggering panic buying from commercial buyers worried about shortages,” said Saxo Bank’s head of commodity strategy, Ole Hansen.
“Front loading of sales to the US ahead of potential tariffs may also play a part.”