Fairtrade International Announces New Minimum Coffee Prices Effective December
Fairtrade International has announced an increase in the minimum prices for coffee, specifically for Arabica and Robusta beans, following a comprehensive year-long review of production costs and market conditions. The new pricing structure will be implemented from December 1, after consultations with various stakeholders.
The Fairtrade Minimum Price for washed Arabica will rise to $2.00 per pound, reflecting an increase of $0.20, or approximately 11%, from the previous price of $1.80. Washed Arabica constitutes over 80% of all Fairtrade coffee sales. In contrast, the minimum price for natural Robusta will see a $0.10 increase to $1.30 per pound, marking an 8% rise. This variety accounts for less than 10% of Fairtrade coffee sales.
The prices for natural Arabica and washed Robusta will also see increases, by $0.20 and $0.10 respectively. Despite these changes, Fairtrade International has decided to maintain the existing Fairtrade Premium and organic differential at $0.20 per pound and $0.40 per pound respectively. This decision is based on the recent high coffee prices and the need to maintain predictability for cooperatives and traders.
The Fairtrade Minimum Price serves as a global floor price, which comes into effect when market prices drop below the Fairtrade level. Notably, coffee prices have not fallen below $2.00 per pound since March 2024. Fairtrade International plans to review its coffee prices every four years as part of its broader strategy.
Colleen Anunu, a senior advisor for coffee at Fairtrade International, emphasized the importance of these prices for ensuring a dignified livelihood for coffee farmers. She stated that the Fairtrade pricing structure acts as a critical safety net for cooperatives, supporting farmer resilience against climate change and regulatory pressures, while safeguarding global supply chains.
The organization's cost-of-production analysis was based on data from 57 cooperatives across 13 countries, covering the 2023–2024 crop period. These figures were updated to reflect inflation and exchange rates up to September 2025. During the consultation period, Fairtrade International received feedback from over 600 respondents.
