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The Star
30-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
Domestic coffee market valued at RM4.4bil, says deputy minister
Deputy Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Chan Fong Hin visiting the booth after launching the Malaysian International Food and Beverage Trade Fair (MIFB) at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre on July 30.-AZMAN GHANI/The Star MALAYSIA'S domestic coffee market is valued at US$1.05bil (RM4.4bil) with over 6,400 cafes operating nationwide, says Datuk Chan Fong Hin. The Deputy Plantation and Commodities Minister said he has observed that the coffee and cafe culture were among the fastest growing segments in Asean. Chan said this in his keynote address at the opening of the Malaysian International Food and Beverage Trade Fair (MIFB) held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre on Wednesday (July 30). "This also marks my third consecutive year attending the event. I am delighted to see it continue evolving into a prestigious regional platform for food and beverage innovation and trade," he added. Chan explained that the MIFB 2025 theme of 'Future-Ready F&B: Serving the Evolution of Trends' captured the industry's transformation, adapting to consumer preferences, embracing digitalisation and innovating sustainably. "It mirrors the mission of our plantation and commodity sectors," said Chan, adding that his ministry oversees the development of Malaysia's main commodities of palm oil, rubber, timber, cocoa, pepper, kenaf and tobacco, many of which were integral to the F&B industry. "In 2024, the palm oil industry contributed a remarkable RM114bil in export earnings. Accounting for 2.97% of Malaysia's GDP, the oil palm sector employs close to one million workers and smallholders, making it the second largest employer after the government." Visitors visiting the booth during the Malaysian International Food and Beverage Trade Fair (MIFB) at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre on July 30.-AZMAN GHANI/The Star Chan said while demand is booming, the global coffee supply chain was facing increasing volatility. "Brazil's 2024 Arabica harvest, for example, has been cut by around 12% due to El Nino-driven droughts. "Simultaneously, the Red Sea crisis has forced shipping routes to detour by over 5,000km, adding US$0.12 to US$0.15 per pound of coffee landed at Port Klang. "These combined pressures have pushed the International Coffee Organisation's composite price indicator up by a staggering 94.6% in just one year." Also present at the opening event were Constellar group chief executive officer Chua Wee Phong and Malaysia Specialty Coffee Association president and chief executive officer of Coffex Coffee Kelvin Ngow. Chan said these external pressures highlighted why Malaysia should expand domestic coffee cultivation for local consumption. "Strengthening our own production is the way to ensure the cafe economy continues to thrive while positioning Malaysia as a credible origin in the global coffee trade. Visitors visiting the booth during the Malaysian International Food and Beverage Trade Fair (MIFB) at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre on July 30.-AZMAN GHANI/The Star Chan also enthused the exciting debut of the Malaysia Cafe Expo (MCE) that was launched this year under the MIFB umbrella, together with the Malaysia Food Tech Expo (MyFoodTech). "The debut of MCE is especially significant because it represents how MIFB continues to expand its reach, covering the F&B value chain, and reflecting the aspirations of the Malaysian government to build a food sector that is innovative, market-driven, and inclusive," he said. Held for three days from July 30 to Aug 1, MIFB 2025 features over 500 companies and 12,000 trade visitors, with impactful showcases such as the Knowledge Hub, MyFoodTech, and the debut Wine, Spirits & Beer Showcase.
The Sun
30-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Malaysia's coffee market hits US$1.05 billion amid global supply challenges
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's domestic coffee market has reached a valuation of US$1.05 billion, supported by over 6,400 cafes operating across the country. Deputy Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Chan Foong Hin highlighted the sector's growth while addressing external pressures affecting global supply chains. Speaking at the 24th Malaysian International Food and Beverage Trade Fair (MIFB 2025) and Malaysia Cafe Expo (MCE), Chan emphasised the need to expand local coffee cultivation. 'Strengthening our own production is the way to ensure the cafe economy continues to thrive while positioning Malaysia as a credible origin in the global coffee trade,' he said. Key coffee-growing regions in Malaysia include Pagoh, Johor, and Ranau, Sabah. Chan urged local planters to capitalise on the crop's potential, despite coffee not falling under his ministry's direct purview. Global coffee supply chains are under strain, with Brazil's 2024 Arabica harvest shrinking by 12% due to El Nino-induced droughts. Additionally, the Red Sea crisis has forced shipping reroutes, adding US$0.12 to US$0.15 per pound to coffee arriving at Port Klang. These disruptions have driven the International Coffee Organisation's composite price indicator up by 94.6% in just one year. Chan also noted the symbiotic relationship between coffee and bakery products, which rely heavily on palm-based ingredients like margarine, shortening, and cocoa butter equivalent (CBE). 'This reinforces how Malaysia's palm oil industry is deeply interwoven with the rise of coffee culture and the cafe economy,' he said. - Bernama
Barnama
30-07-2025
- Business
- Barnama
Malaysia's Domestic Coffee Market Valued At US$1.05 Bln -- Chan
REGION - CENTRAL > NEWS KUALA LUMPUR, July 30 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's domestic coffee market is valued at US$1.05 billion (US$1=RM4.23), with over 6,400 cafes operating nationwide, said Deputy Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Chan Foong Hin. Speaking to reporters at the 24th edition of the Malaysian International Food and Beverage Trade Fair (MIFB 2025) and Malaysia Cafe Expo (MCE), Chan said the external pressures highlight why Malaysia should expand domestic coffee cultivation for local consumption. 'Strengthening our own production is the way to ensure the cafe economy continues to thrive while positioning Malaysia as a credible origin in the global coffee trade. bootstrap slideshow 'As far as I know, one of the key areas where coffee is planted in Malaysia is in Pagoh, Johor, and Ranau, Sabah. Even though coffee is not under my ministry, I urge the planters to look into these crops, which have a huge prospect in Malaysia,' he said. While demand for coffee is booming, Chan noted that the global coffee supply chain is facing increasing volatility. For instance, Brazil's 2024 Arabica harvest has been cut by around 12 per cent due to El Nino-driven droughts. Simultaneously, the Red Sea crisis has forced shipping routes to detour by over 5,000 kilometres, adding US$0.12 per pound to US$0.15 per pound to coffee landed at Port Klang. 'These combined pressures have pushed the International Coffee Organisation's composite price indicator up by a staggering 94.6 per cent in just one year,' he said. Chan added that coffee rarely comes alone, as it almost always comes with a bakery to complement the coffee culture.
The Hindu
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Sebastião Salgado: A life in images
In June 2022, I arrived in Paris for a conference. I landed a few days early and indulged in the usual delights — eating, walking, and visiting museums. A friend who lived and worked in the city was immensely generous in his hospitality and offered to show me around. One day, as I stepped out of the metro station, my attention was drawn to a bamboo structure in the middle of a fairly large public square, surrounded by towering buildings. The square was alive with activity — employees leaving work, travellers entering or exiting the metro station, families out for a stroll, and immigrants selling Paris-themed merchandise. The bamboo structure was an anomaly. When I went closer, I saw the name Sebastião Salgado written in bold. My questions were partially answered and I slowly realised where I had accidentally arrived. I had almost forgotten that Paris was, after all, Salgado's city, a place he called home after leaving Brazil in 1969 in protest against the military dictatorship. Economist turned photographer Born on February 8, 1944, in Aimorés, Salgado earned a Ph.D in economics in Paris before becoming a full-time photographer. Celebrated for his black-and-white images of humanity and nature, he died of leukaemia in Paris on May 23, 2025, at the age of 81. He developed the illness after contracting a particular type of malaria in 2010. Salgado is survived by his wife, Lélia, their two sons, Juliano and Rodrigo, and two grandchildren, Flavio and Nara. The story goes that Lélia gifted him his first camera. Salgado would later say that photography gradually 'invaded'' his life, eventually leading him to end his career in economics. I was thrilled at the chance to see Salgado's work up close. Until then, like many of his admirers in India, I had only seen his photographs in books or digital reproductions. In Paris, museum visits and exhibitions are usually booked months in advance. But here I was in the middle of nowhere, watching the work of one of the most well-known photographers in the world without any prior planning. Anybody who was interested could walk in. There were no long queues, just an entry ticket. It felt like a powerful example of art reaching out to people beyond the confines of elite institutions. And this is something that Salgado believed in. Documenting nature and humanity Lest we forget, it was his frequent trips to Africa and Latin America during his stint as an economist at the International Coffee Organisation in London that turned him into a full-time photographer. He began photo-documenting coffee production in Africa and Latin America, and this made him leave his job, and become a freelance photographer with the photo agency, Sygma. Social documentary was at the core of his practice. His largely black-and-white photographs captured a wide range of issues: economic adversities, the impact of climate change on mankind, shrinking natural habitats, among other socio-economic challenges plaguing the world. Critics often accused him of 'aestheticising misery'. In an interview with The Guardian last year, he said, 'Why should the poor world be uglier than the rich world?... I came from the third world... The pictures I took, I took from my side, from my world, from where I come.' As I moved through the exhibition, the intention behind its design and curation became increasingly clear. The bamboo structure housing Salgado's photographs had been designed by Colombian architects Simón Vélez and Stefana Simic, both renowned for their work in sustainable architecture. The exhibition itself was curated and designed by Salgado's wife and long-time collaborator, Lélia. Timeless monochromes The central theme of the exhibition was water. As with his previous work, all the photographs were in black and white. This aesthetic echoed his other major projects, including his Amazon series and the large-scale reforestation initiative in Brazil, where he and Lélia oversaw the planting of more than 2.5 million trees on degraded land. And there are many more — Workers (a series on manual labour), Migrations (on people displaced by socio-economic and environmental factors), Other Americas (lives of peasants in Latin America) and his photographs of gold mine workers in Brazil. Here was an artist who was a tireless commentator and documentarian. The Salt of the Earth (2014), a biographical documentary directed by Wim Wenders and Salgado's son, Juliano Ribeiro Salgado, offers a beautiful portrait of the artist and his work. The pavilion built to exhibit Salgado's work was directly conversant with the photographs on display, evoking the need for ecological balance and preservation. There were photos from across the globe, with water as the central metaphor. India was prominently represented too, with scenes from Mumbai, Varanasi, Kolkata, and parts of Rajasthan. Standing there, surrounded by these powerful images in the heart of a foreign city, felt like a profoundly special moment. I returned to the exhibition several times, lingering before each photograph to take in the intricate details — the people, the ecosystems, and the habitats that Salgado had so meticulously documented. His deep humanism radiated through every frame. With Salgado's passing, the world has lost a great chronicler of our turbulent times. The truest tribute to his legacy is to embrace his message — one of compassion, conservation, and co-existence. The writer is a critic and cultural commentator, and teaches at FLAME University, Pune.
Mint
04-05-2025
- Business
- Mint
How climate change is threatening your morning beverage
In the two years since March 2023, an International Monetary Fund price index for beverages, comprising cocoa, coffee and tea, has risen 122%. By comparison, the IMF's food price index has declined 12%. Cocoa and coffee have been the drivers of inflation in the beverages space, with key producer countries facing supply shortages, and there could be more price challenges. Brazil and Vietnam account for over half of the global coffee production. Brazil has had irregular climate events—first a devastating frost and then a drought last year due to El Niño. The International Coffee Organisation has raised concerns about Brazil's coffee season in 2025-26 as well due to frost. Vietnam also faced a drought due to El Niño last year. It's a similar picture for the main producers of cocoa: Ivory Coast and Ghana. West Africa accounts for 80% of the world's cocoa production. Here too, climate change, coupled with plant diseases and a longer-term problem of ageing trees giving lower yields, has led to global shortages. Tea production, too, has been hit by irregular weather. In India, tea production in 2024 fell 8% over 2023 levels. India has not remained unaffected by the turmoil in global coffee and cocoa markets. Interestingly, while domestic wholesale prices in both commodities have risen, retail prices of coffee have soared while those of cocoa, or chocolate, have remained muted. However, this could also be a reflection of producers tweaking their recipes of chocolate to reduce the quantity of cocoa while keeping prices constant. India is self-sufficient in coffee. Its total production is more than its domestic demand. It is also a net exporter, shipping out more coffee than it imports. Despite that, and in spite of domestic production being less plagued by unusual weather, coffee prices in India have risen sharply. The bulk of the Indian coffee supply (production and imports) is exported. Only around 20% is used for domestic consumption. As a result, local prices have strongly tracked international prices. 'Coffee has been a complete super inflation," Suresh Narayanan, chairman and managing director of Nestle India, said during a call with analysts in February. Admitting that volumes in both coffee and cocoa had been dented because of the price increases, he added, 'If the situation does not improve, then the whole dynamics of the market will change." India imports a big part of its domestic cocoa requirement. For 2024-25, the government had forecast cocoa production at 30,000 tonnes, the same level as in 2023-24. Meanwhile, between April 2024 and January 2025, India imported 111,050 tonnes of cocoa and exported 37,155 tonnes. But unlike with coffee, the rise in retail cocoa prices has been slower than wholesale prices, as price hikes beyond a point will hurt volumes. In cocoa, globally, an indicator of demand is the ratio between stocks of cocoa and so-called 'grindings' (the process whereby cocoa is turned into end products). The lower this ratio, the less the extent to which current demand can be met out of existing stocks. In 2023-24, this ratio hit a 46-year low of 27%. While climate change affects all agricultural commodities, cocoa is cultivated largely by small farmers, who receive a small proportion of the price of the final product. As a result, they have not been able to invest in new plants. And as their existing trees age, yields will decline. Of the three beverages, tea is the one driven most by dynamics internal to the Indian market. Here too, tea production in 2024 fell as compared with 2023. Assam, which accounts for over half of the tea production in the country, alternately experienced heatwaves and floods during last year's harvest season. As a result, tea production in the state in 2024 fell 6% from the year before. Production in West Bengal, which accounts for another 30% of Indian tea production, fell by 16% from a year earlier. As a result, tea auction prices rose by 18% in 2024. All three commodities face an uncertain future, with the key driver being climate change. Thus, while year-to-year fluctuations may moderate prices in the short term, it's likely that all these beverages are only likely to become much more expensive in the longer term. is a database and search engine for public data
