Italian roaster Lavazza warned coffee prices are likely to remain elevated and
volatility will persist, complicating expectations for price relief. Chairman
Giuseppe Lavazza said market stability is required before prices can fall and
that at least two strong harvests plus a substantial rebuild of global
inventories would be needed to ease tightness, making price declines unlikely
over the next two years. New York Arabica futures posted their largest intraday
gain in 26 years on Monday, then gave back most of the move and swung again on
Wednesday, reflecting market tension between expectations of a record Brazilian
crop and El Nifio-related weather risk.