EP 973 | Part 3 of 5: Who Gets Hit First in the Coffee Value Chain (Lee Safar)
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This episode is brought to you by The Honduran Coffee Alliance, connecting Honduran coffee producers with global buyers in a fair, sustainable, and commercially viable way.
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Email: sean@hondurancoffeealliance.com
Episode Description
This is Part 3 of a five-part series: War, Trade, and Coffee — What the Middle East Conflict Means for the Global Coffee Industry.
In this episode, Lee Safar explores how geopolitical conflict exposes the uneven distribution of risk across the coffee supply chain.
The coffee industry often speaks about producer vulnerability, but crises like this reveal how risk moves through every layer of the supply chain, from farmers and exporters to traders and roasters.
Lee explains how producers may face indirect impacts through rising fertilizer costs, fuel price volatility, and export delays that strain already fragile farm economics.
Exporters often carry the largest financial exposure during logistics disruptions. With coffee already purchased and contracts to fulfill, delays in containers, shipping schedules, and currency markets can create significant financial pressure, particularly for smaller exporters.
Traders typically have more tools to hedge against volatility, while farmers increasingly use supply and demand dynamics to manage risk by delaying sales when prices are unfavorable.
Roasters and downstream buyers ultimately feel the cumulative effect of disruptions earlier in the supply chain, including rising freight costs, unpredictable arrivals, stock shortages, and pricing instability.
The episode highlights the importance of understanding risk across your entire supply chain and strengthening relationships with partners who can navigate uncertainty together.
In the next episode, Lee explores the economic domino effect of geopolitical conflict across the coffee industry.
Connect with Lee Safar and Map It Forward here:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/leesafar/
https://mapitforward.coffee
https://www.instagram.com/leesafar
https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee