Assembly of African coffee producers

When members of the InterAfrican Coffee Organization (IACO) convened in Abidjan, Côte d'lvoire at the end of last year they reviewed the world coffee market situation and discussed activities relating to African coffee production and export. In relation to the world market situation, it was noted that although African coffee production is Improving, and despite favourable supply and demand factors, prices are stagnating and overall revenue for 1996/7 is likely to be 40% lower than two years ago. In the light of weak prices, the Assembly agreed that the African Coffee Producing Countries (ACPC) export volume previously agreed in July 1996 should be reviewed to ensure that surplus stocks in importing countries continued to decline. It was also decided that high level diplomatic initiatives should be launched with ACPC partners in Latin America and Asia so that common measures might be taken in future to strengthen world prices. In relation to the African Coffee Rehabilitation Programme, the meeting noted that after a period of continuous decline, productivity and quality have been improving. African coffee production is now estimated at 17.2 million bags per year. Progress in areas of disease control by member countries was also noted to be satisfactory. InterAfrican Coffee Organization Secretary-General BP V'210 Abidjan COTE D'IVOIREAssembly of the InterAfrican Coffee Organization (IACO), Abidjan, Côte d'lvoire at the end of 199