Coffee
Global Highlights
LDC has been in the coffee business for over 35 years, merchandizing all major Arabica and Robusta coffee qualities, while serving a diverse range of customers across the globe, from specialty roasters to multinational food companies.
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About Coffee
Each year the world produces approximately 10 million tons of coffee, the two main species of which are Arabica and Robusta.
Milder, more aromatic and with less caffeine, Arabica coffee makes up the majority of world production. It is grown mainly at higher altitudes in tropical and temperate regions of the Western Hemisphere, Brazil being the world’s largest producer.
Vietnam is the largest producer of Robusta coffee, which is largely grown at lower altitudes in tropical Asia and Africa.
Brazil is the world’s leading producer of coffee overall, followed by Vietnam, Colombia and Indonesia. The EU (as a region) consumes the most coffee, followed by the US, Brazil and Japan.
Our Coffee Value Chain
Each of our business lines is integrating further across the five steps of our value chain, as we respond to the need for a traceable and responsible supply line from farmer to consumer
01Originate
01Originate
02Purchase & Process
02Purchase & Process
03Store & Transport
03Store & Transport
04Research & Merchandize
04Research & Merchandize
05Customize & Distribute
05Customize & Distribute
01Originate
01Originate
02Purchase & Process
02Purchase & Process
03Store & Transport
03Store & Transport
04Research & Merchandize
04Research & Merchandize
05Customize & Distribute
05Customize & Distribute
Our Strengths in Brazil
Brazil is the world’s largest coffee producer, accounting for a third of global production, and LDC is one of the world’s top three merchandizers of Arabica and Robusta varieties.
Recognizing our key role in bringing Brazilian coffee to the world, we continue to reinforce and grow our operations in the country, originating in all producing regions, expanding our participation in the domestic market and increasing exports to meet global demand for coffee.
We are committed to working toward increasingly sustainable coffee supply chains, working closely with farmers and partners to drive best practice at every step of the journey: from production to storage and logistics, and from export and marketing to the finished product.
Enlarging Our Product Portfolio
As part of LDC’s strategy for growth, we are moving further downstream in our value chains, closer to consumers, and diversifying revenue through value-added products in key growth markets.
LDC started trading instant coffee in 2020, supplying the full spectrum of instant coffee products (spray-dried, agglomerated, freeze-dried). In 2024, we acquired Companhia Cacique de Café Solúvel, a leading global soluble coffee producer, processor and exporter, with clients in over 70 countries. This acquisition supports our vertical integration strategy, adding established soluble coffee plants in Brazil to complement our existing joint venture instant coffee plant in Vietnam.
In parallel, we continue to reinforce our coffee origination capabilities to provide customers with supply chain stability and a direct link to coffee origins.
Invested in Coffee Sustainability
As a leading global merchant of green coffee, LDC is well-positioned and equipped to support coffee farmers in addressing the challenges they face to make their production more sustainable and profitable. Our coffee sustainability strategy takes a holistic approach built on four complementary pillars:
- Responsible sourcing
- Farmer support through the Stronger Coffee Initiative
- Sustainable operations
- Partnerships
As a world leader processing and marketing of coffee, LDC is strongly committed to supplying safe products, responsibly, and guaranteeing a fluid, traceable and sustainable supply chain. Find out more in our Quality and Food Safety Policy.
Global Code of Conduct for Coffee Suppliers
We aim at spreading sustainable practices throughout the coffee value chain. This Code of Conduct sets out to serve as a common base for our coffee suppliers and is intended to provide them with an understanding of our expectations for responsible practices.
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