A new analysis from the nonprofit initiative Trase quantifies the high degree of concentration within the global coffee supply chain. Based on 2020 per-shipment export records from 10 major producing nations, which represented 81% of global exports, the report shows that a small group of multinational companies controls a substantial share of the world's green coffee flow.
According to the Trase data, the top 10 trading companies accounted for 35% of global coffee exports, with the top 30 handling 55%. The report identifies Olam as the largest exporter with a 7.6% share, followed by Louis Dreyfus Company (4.1%), Neumann Gruppe (3.4%), and Sucafina (3.0%). On the import side, Neumann Gruppe led with 6.8% of trade volume where importers were identified, followed by Nestlé (5.5%) and Olam (4.6%). The data also reaffirmed the dominance of Brazil and Vietnam as top origins, and the European Union and the United States as the primary destination markets.
The report frames its findings in the context of increasing demands for supply chain transparency and sustainability, particularly with the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) set to take effect. Trase positions the data as an accountability tool, arguing that since the EU imports 40% of the world's coffee, the large traders who supply it will need to establish robust traceability systems. These systems, once in place for EU compliance, could then be extended to other markets, potentially raising traceability standards across the industry.