Rio de Janeiro – According to the Brazilian Coffee Industry Association (ABIC), Brazil’s domestic consumption could rise from 16.33 million bags in 2006 to over 21 million in 2010 making this country the world’s largest consumer of the commodity, ahead of the

United States.

Abic’s figures were disclosed yesterday in the presence of the Brazilian minister of Agriculture, Reinhold Stephanes. Statistical projections from the Association show that consumption should grow by approximately 5% this year, against a global average of 1.5%.Rio de Janeiro capital of coffee Under the motto “Café Também É Saúde” (“Coffee is also Healthy”), the Brazilian government is launching a promotional campaign on coffee and health which aims at making of Rio de Janeiro the “capital of coffee” during the Pan-American Games. The major south-eastern city of

Brazil will host the games from July 13 through 29. Stephanes complained about the excessive appreciation of the real against the dollar which is cutting the profits of agricultural exporters. “The one thing I do not like is when the dollar depreciates too much, because the effects are unfavourable to the sectors that we defend. Now, if we export over US$ 50 billion in agricultural products, and import just US$ 6 billion, then what can we do? This generates a surplus, more dollars come into the country, and the price falls,” he said.(source: Anba)

[tags]coffee consumption, coffee production, Pan AM Games, capital of coffee, coffee campaign, coffee, coffee prices [/tags]