Impact of Extreme Weather on Coffee, Cocoa, and Orange Juice Production in 2024
The year 2024 saw significant declines in the production of coffee, cocoa, and orange juice due to extreme weather conditions. Brazil’s coffee faced drought and freezing temperatures, while West Africa’s cocoa crop suffered from adverse climatic factors, leading to record-high prices. Florida’s orange production was severely affected by hurricanes, further foreshadowing price increases in these commodities for 2025.
In 2024, the production of key soft commodities such as coffee, cocoa, and orange juice suffered significantly due to extreme weather conditions. Brazil, which produces nearly 40% of the global coffee supply, experienced droughts that diminished both flower production and bean size, compounded by a devastating freeze in August. As a result, coffee prices surged to the highest levels in over a decade. In parallel, cocoa prices escalated dramatically, reaching their highest mark in fifty years, due to adverse weather events in West Africa that hindered crop yields. Additionally, Florida’s orange production faced catastrophic losses from hurricanes, alongside ongoing challenges from citrus greening and drought in Brazil. Such severe weather events coupled with other geopolitical factors contribute to the increasing volatility and costs of these essential commodities, with projections indicating further price rises in 2025.
The article highlights the impact of extreme weather on the global production of essential soft commodities—coffee, cocoa, and orange juice. It explains the interconnectedness of weather patterns and agricultural outputs, specifically referencing how Brazil’s significant coffee production is affected by drought and freezes. Furthermore, it addresses how weather events in West Africa have impacted cocoa prices and the challenges faced by the citrus industry in Florida, thus painting a broader picture of how climate variability is changing agricultural economics globally.
In summary, the year 2024 marked a challenging period for soft commodity production, with extreme weather conditions severely impacting coffee, cocoa, and orange juice crops. The combination of droughts, temperature extremes, and hurricanes has led to record-high prices, highlighting an increasingly volatile agricultural market. Stakeholders in the agricultural sector must prepare for continued changes as the climate evolves, potentially leading to further price increases and supply chain disruptions in the future.
Original Source: www.dtnpf.com
