Theft of green coffee grains trucks increases in the United States, the world's largest importer of goods, while grain prices were switching to peaks of all time in the past year, according to transport companies.
The problem was discussed by market players during the weekend in Houston, where the US National Coffee Association held its annual conference.
The United States is the world's largest consumer in drink. Since coffee is only produced in warmer geographies, it must import almost 100% of what it uses and transport millions of bags from roasting plants, mainly via trucks.
“There have been dozens of flights in the past year, which would rarely occur in the past,” said Todd Costley, logistics sales coordinator for Hartley Transportation, a freight broker in Pembroke, New Hampshire.
Coffee theft has been reported in producing countries such as Brazil and Vietnam, generally on farms where beans are temporarily stored after harvest. These sites are more vulnerable because they are isolated.
The armed men took 500 bags of coffee worth $ 230,000 in a farm in the state of Minas Gerais in Brazil in January, according to local police.
In the United States, thefts were made by organized gangs which disguise themselves as transport companies.
Costley said these false companies are on the market trying to obtain small contracts from importers by offering better prices or immediate availability of trucks.
“Importers should be careful who they hire,” he said. “Once they have had coffee, they disappear.”
Each truck load has around 19,958 kg of green beans, which, with the current market value, is worth around $ 180,000.
Some market players believe that gangs then try to sell beans with smaller roasters, which feel the pain in sky prices.
Some importers have started to attach follow -up to coffee bags, in order to protect their shipments.
