Coffee assists in the improvement of living conditions.

VIETNAM -- According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development coffee has contributed to improving the living conditions of one million growers, especially ethnic minority people in the Central Highlands.

According to recent statistics, Viet Nam produces between 750,000 and 800,000 tons of coffee per year, 90% of which are being exported. As a result, price fluctuations in international markets greatly affect the country's coffee market.

To cope with these fluctuations, many experts have suggested that coffee import-export businesses try to sell directly to coffee processors and participate in international futures market in order to minimise losses.

Vice President of the Viet Nam Coffee-Cocoa Association (Vicofa) Doan Trieu Nhan said that prolonged drought has caused a sharp reduction in coffee supply by Viet Nam and Brazil. The coffee output of the 2005-06 crop is forecast to decrease by 30-40%.

However, the Trade Information Centre under the Ministry of Trade forecast that Viet Nam's coffee export value remains high, reaching around $950 million this year.