The C Market
The C Market is an international exchange where Arabica coffee is traded daily as a commodity, similar to wheat, sugar, or oil. Prices fluctuate constantly due to supply and demand, production levels, weather conditions, and economic factors. The agreed-upon price on this exchange is called the C price, playing a crucial role in determining the global value of Arabica coffee.
Established in the late 1960s, the C Market aimed to create a more transparent trading system for coffee-producing countries, particularly in Central America. Before that, Brazil – then the world’s largest coffee producer – had significant influence over Arabica prices, which were primarily traded through Universal contracts. Today, the C Market remains a key pricing mechanism for Arabica coffee, directly impacting the entire global coffee supply chain.