Coffee is one of the worlds largest export commodity, only crude oil is larger than coffee in regards to value.
Coffee is one of the few crops suitable for the climate and altitude in many of the coffee producing countries around the equator. Coffee is grown in more than fifty countries in South America, Central America, Africa as well as several countries in Asia. Today approximately 30 million people are getting their income from coffee.
The coffee production for the top five exporting countries during crop year 08/09 (oct-sep) is shown below (on the world market coffee are always quantified in the number of bags and each bag is equivalent to 60 kilos):
Brasil 46 million bags 35,9%
Vietnam 18,5 million bags 14,5%
Colombia 8,7million bags 6,8%
Indonesia 8,4 million bags 7,3%
Other 45,4million bags 35,5%
Totally: 128,0 million bags