MILAN – According to trade sources, exporters in Vietnam have delayed the shipment of at least 80,000 tons of coffee after recent falls at London’s Liffe led farmers to hold back from selling their stocks. As fears of defaults from Vietnam intensified, some roasters and trading houses chased Robustas from neighbouring Indonesia, where beans were on par with London levels even though the harvests were near their peak, sources said.

Dealers said farmers insisted on selling the beans at prices matching London levels but exporters were only willing to take Robustas at a discount, citing ample supply, even though the harvests had already ended a few months ago.

Some dealers say that around 200,000 tonnes of beans are still or undelivered unsold in Vietnam.

The Vietnam Coffee and Cocoa Association have asked exporters to halt sales of coffee from Vietnam’s next 2009/2010 crop in a bid to boost prices.

MILAN – According to trade sources, exporters in Vietnam have delayed the shipment of at least 80,000 tons of coffee after recent falls at London’s Liffe led farmers to hold back from selling their stocks. As fears of defaults from Vietnam intensified, some roasters and trading houses chased Robustas from neighbouring Indonesia, where beans were on par with London levels even though the harvests were near their peak, sources said.

Dealers said farmers insisted on selling the beans at prices matching London levels but exporters were only willing to take Robustas at a discount, citing ample supply, even though the harvests had already ended a few months ago.

Some dealers say that around 200,000 tonnes of beans are still or undelivered unsold in Vietnam.

The Vietnam Coffee and Cocoa Association have asked exporters to halt sales of coffee from Vietnam’s next 2009/2010 crop in a bid to boost prices.