By Sama Marwan ,
The International Coffee Organization (ICO) announced that the global price of coffee rose by 60.5% year-on-year in May, with the average price of coffee in the first offering reaching $334.41 USD.
The Spanish newspaper La Repubblica noted that the 60.5% increase is year-over-year, and the ICO report suggests that the upward trend may continue if the consumer expectations survey conducted by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York proves accurate.
The report states:
“Household spending potential remains strong thanks to slower debt growth, lower rates of savings depletion, and weak consumer confidence, all of which boost coffee consumption.”
According to the ICO, recent movements suggest the coffee price is seeking direction, with both bullish and bearish factors at play.
Last month, various geopolitical factors created uncertainty in the market, and coffee was no exception. Despite the 60% increase compared to 2024, May prices were at their lowest level since January 2025.
An ICO document points out that the London International Commodities Exchange (LCE) was the main driver of this decline, with a monthly drop of 4.7% to reach $224.63 USD in May. Meanwhile, the New York ICE market, where El Salvador’s coffee is traded, saw a 0.6% decrease, bringing the average price to $368 USD.
The ICO explained:
“One of the factors that may exert further downward pressure is the general uncertainty surrounding U.S. tariffs, which is generating expectations of a potential economic contraction and affecting demand strength.”
Last week, the “C” coffee futures contract—which covers Arabica coffee from 19 producing countries—fell by 0.9%, closing at $345.30 per quintal.
The El Salvador Coffee Institute stated:
“Downward pressure increased following a report from the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia (FNC), which estimated that Colombia may export around 11.2 million bags during the current coffee year (October 2024 to September 2025).”
