Vietnam has raised concerns over the global coffee supply as the Southeast Asian country’s largest city remains stranded.
The Ho Chi Minh export hub has been placed under strict lockdown restrictions after an increase in the delta variant of the coronavirus, the BBC reports.
Vietnam is a major producer of robusta, the bitter-tasting bean used in instant coffee and some espresso blends.
Wholesale Robusta grain prices have increased by 50% so far this year.
The closure in southeast Ho Chi Minh City means Vietnamese exporters scramble to move goods, including coffee beans, to ports for global shipping.
Travel restrictions pose another problem for exporters already facing a severe shortage of sea containers and rising freight costs.
The city and its ports are an important part of the global transportation network that connects China to Europe.
The Vietnam Coffee and Cocoa Association and other trade organizations have urged the country’s government to ease restrictions to avoid further delivery delays and associated costs.
Coffee lovers around the may be faced with their pick me up drink needing to be replaced with a good old pot of tea in the interim.
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