SAO PAULO, July 13 (Xinhua) -- Brazilian coffee exports to China increased 23.1 percent year on year during the first five months of 2019, a local industry association reported Saturday.
Brazil exported 88,179 bags of coffee to China from January to May in 2019, according to the Brazilian Council of Coffee Exporters (Cecafa).
During an interview with Xinhua, Cecafa President Nelson Carvalhaes underscored the role of young Asian consumers and his country's interest in increasing its sales to China.
"The opening of coffee shops encourages the youth to drink coffee in various ways," said Carvalhaes, referring the rapid development of coffee shops like Luckin Coffee and Starbucks in Chinese cities and their attractiveness to the new generations.
"We also have the example of South Korea, where the barista career is having a boom," he added.
In view of this opportunity, Carvalhaes said the public and private sectors in Brazil seek to develop markets in China.
"Undoubtedly we want to grow in our main trading partner's market," the executive said. "Brazil can offer volume and quality that can meet the demands of different markets."
Brazil accounts for 38 percent of the world's coffee market with 300,000 producers, which makes the South American country a major producer and exporter of coffee in the world.
Until June in the 2018-2019 harvest period, Brazil exported 41.1 million coffee bags in total, up by 35 percent from a year ago.
