Transportation companies have stated that with the price of coffee beans reaching record highs last year, incidents of trucks loaded with green coffee beans being stolen are on the rise in the United States, the world’s largest coffee bean importing country.
Over the weekend, the U.S. National Coffee Association held its annual conference in Houston, Texas, where market participants discussed this issue.
The United States is the largest consumer of coffee in the world. Since coffee is only produced in warmer climates, the U.S. imports nearly 100% of its coffee beans and transports millions of bags of coffee from ports to roasting facilities, with the majority of transportation being done by trucks.
Todd Costley, the logistics sales coordinator at Hartley Transportation, a freight brokerage firm in New Hampshire, mentioned, “There were dozens of thefts last year, which was rare in the past.”
Reports indicate that coffee theft incidents also occur in coffee-producing countries like Brazil and Vietnam, often taking place at farms where coffee beans are temporarily stored post-harvest. These thefts are more likely to happen as these locations are often remote with less surveillance.
Local authorities reported that in January this year, armed individuals stole 500 bags of coffee beans worth around $230,000 from a farm in Minas Gerais, Brazil.
In the United States, some organized groups disguise themselves as transportation companies to carry out thefts.
Costley mentioned that these fake companies try to offer better prices in the market or provide trucks immediately, allowing them to secure small contracts from coffee importers.
“Importers should be cautious about who they hire,” said Costley. “Once they have the coffee, they disappear.”
Each truck can carry approximately 44,000 pounds (19,958 kilograms) of green coffee beans, valued at around $180,000 based on current market prices.
Some market participants believe these groups will subsequently try to sell the stolen coffee beans to small-scale roasters who are feeling the pinch of skyrocketing prices.
Some importers have started installing tracking devices on coffee bags to protect their goods.
(This article was referenced from Reuters reports)