分类： business

The misty highlands of Guava Ridge in St. Andrew will serve as the backdrop for the eighth annual Blue Mountain Coffee Day celebration this Friday, centered on the critical theme of constructing a climate-resilient coffee industry. This significant event commemorates the historic January 9, 1967 shipment that saw 60% of Jamaica’s annual coffee harvest dispatched to Japan from Kingston’s port—a pioneering commercial endeavor executed by the late Keble Munn, founder of Mavis Bank Coffee Factory established in March 1953.

Norman Grant, Chairman of the Jamaica Coffee Exporters Association and CEO of Mavis Bank Coffee Factory, emphasized in his anniversary address that this year’s observance occurs during a pivotal recovery period for the industry. Coffee growers are confronting multiple climate-induced challenges, most recently Hurricane Melissa, highlighting the urgent necessity for developing robust adaptive strategies within local coffee cultivation.

The event will feature keynote addresses from Floyd Green, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, and Yasuhiro Atsumi, Japanese Ambassador to Jamaica, underscoring the bilateral importance of this agricultural partnership. The celebration is collaboratively organized by the Jamaica Coffee Exporters Association, 5,000 local coffee farmers, the Jamaica Agricultural Commodities Regulatory Authority, Jampro, and multiple government ministries alongside the All Japanese Importers of Jamaican Coffee.

Renowned for its exceptional quality, Blue Mountain coffee thrives exclusively in the elevated regions of Jamaica’s Blue Mountains at altitudes ranging from 3,000 to 5,500 feet. The unique terroir—characterized by cool misty conditions and mineral-rich volcanic soil—produces beans with distinctive mild flavor, minimal acidity, and exceptionally smooth characteristics. This premium coffee commands global recognition as one of the world’s most exclusive and expensive varieties, with over 80% of exports destined for the discerning Japanese market where it holds revered status.

The Blue Mountain Coffee Day tradition was originally established in Japan in 2018 by the All Japanese Importers of Jamaican Coffee under the thematic banner “Jamaica Blue Mountain, the King of Coffees and the Winning Bean,” celebrating both the product’s excellence and the enduring trade relationship between the nations.

The United Nations has projected that the global economy will expand by 2.7 percent in 2026, maintaining a pace slightly below 2025 levels and significantly under pre-pandemic performance averages. This outlook, detailed in the World Economic Situation and Prospects 2026 report released Wednesday, points to persistent headwinds from escalating trade conflicts, unsustainable debt burdens, and chronically weak investment.

While acknowledging that receding inflation and a shift toward accommodative monetary policies provided some support in 2025—even amidst sharp increases in U.S. tariffs—the report underscores deeper structural vulnerabilities. These include severely constrained fiscal space across nations and persistently subdued investment, which threaten to trap the world economy in an extended phase of sluggish expansion.

Global trade dynamics showed unexpected vigor in 2025, growing at 3.8 percent, fueled by anticipatory shipments and robust services exchange. However, this momentum is forecast to decelerate markedly to 2.2 percent in 2026 as the cumulative effects of protective tariffs and pervasive policy uncertainty intensify.

Regionally, Latin America and the Caribbean are anticipated to see economic growth of 2.3 percent in 2026, a marginal dip from the previous year. The UN attributes this to tempered consumer demand and only a gradual pickup in investment, with significant risks posed by elevated debt, inflexible fiscal positions, and susceptibility to external disruptions.

Inflationary pressures are receding on a global scale, with headline inflation expected to decline to 3.1 percent in 2026 from 3.4 percent in 2025. Despite this moderation, the UN emphasized that the high cost of essential goods continues to severely undermine purchasing power, particularly within developing economies where expenses for food, energy, and transport remain disproportionately high.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres highlighted the transformative impact of intersecting economic, geopolitical, and technological tensions, which are deepening uncertainty and exacerbating social strains. He noted with concern that numerous developing nations remain off course to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

The analysis further warned of risks associated with mounting debt obligations and potential financial market instability, including overvalued asset prices in artificial intelligence-linked sectors that may exacerbate both international and domestic inequalities.

In response, the UN issued a strong call for revitalized multilateral collaboration, urging enhanced government coordination on trade frameworks, comprehensive debt relief initiatives, and scalable climate finance. The report endorsed the Sevilla Commitment—forged at the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development—as a vital blueprint for overhauling the international financial architecture and improving access to development and climate funding, a critical need for small and vulnerable economies such as those in the Caribbean.

Jamaica’s prestigious coffee sector is mounting a major recovery effort following devastating climate disasters, with industry leaders applauding government support while calling for sustained rebuilding initiatives. Dr. Norman Grant, Chairman of the Jamaica Coffee Exporters Association (JCEA), has endorsed the government’s intervention package including a J$120 million allocation for recovery, with J$35 million already distributed to affected stakeholders.

The endorsement comes as Jamaica prepares to observe Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Day on January 9, 2026, under the theme ‘Rebuilding a Climate Resilient Coffee Industry.’ This celebration occurs against a backdrop of unprecedented challenges that have plagued the sector over four consecutive years of extreme weather disruptions.

According to industry assessments, Hurricane Melissa’s Category 5 impact proved particularly catastrophic during the 2025/2026 crop year, destroying approximately 100,000 boxes of coffee and causing farm-gate losses estimated at J$1 billion. Preliminary evaluations indicate 40% of mature crops ready for harvest were lost, accompanied by extensive damage to coffee trees, farm infrastructure, and critical access roads.

Cumulative losses over the past four years have reached an estimated J$2.5 billion due to climate-related disruptions that have severely reduced production yields. Despite these setbacks, Jamaica’s coffee industry maintains its significant economic contribution and prestigious global market position, continuing to export millions of dollars worth of premium coffee annually.

Dr. Grant specifically acknowledged Agriculture Minister Floyd Green for his responsive approach to addressing the plight of coffee farmers, their families, and affiliated businesses. The chairman emphasized that beyond physical damage, the industry requires mental health and psychosocial support for farmers dealing with hurricane-related trauma.

‘Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee remains a national treasure, a source of rural employment, and a symbol of Jamaica’s excellence on the world stage,’ stated Dr. Grant. He noted that resilience alone proves insufficient without coordinated, sustained support mechanisms.

The JCEA continues advocating for urgent recovery measures including implementation of the Coffee Crop Resuscitation and Establishment Programme (CREP), enhanced farm road rehabilitation, and targeted assistance to help farmers resume production operations. Industry stakeholders emphasize that rebuilding a climate-resilient coffee industry requires comprehensive planning and continued investment to safeguard Jamaica’s iconic agricultural export.