ICO Reports 8.7% Fall in September Coffee Prices

September Prices Retreat

The International Coffee Organization’s September 2026 market report puts its composite indicator at an average of 262.18 US cents per pound, down 8.7% from August. The ICO attributes the decline to greater availability from Brazil’s harvest and expectations of ample supply. All four coffee group indicators fell during the month.

Trade Grows While Stocks Remain a Factor

Global green coffee exports reached 10.94 million 60-kilogram bags in August, 15.6% above the same month in 2025. The report identifies low certified Arabica stocks and uncertainty over El Niño as factors supporting prices despite the broader decline. These figures describe different reporting periods: September prices and August shipments.

Buyer Perspective

Our view is that the lower monthly average gives buyers a reason to refresh quotations and compare them against the same specifications. For Ethiopian coffee, record the lot, grade, processing method, shipment window and quotation validity before comparing offers. A broad market decline does not establish how much a particular coffee should cost. Separating the reference market from the supplier’s lot terms makes price discussions more useful and avoids treating a monthly average as an executable offer.