• The ICO has received information from National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia indicating that the country’s exports in the first semester of 2008 were 6.1 million bags of 60kg, an increase of 6.9% in relation to the same period of the previous year. Production in the last twelve months (July 2007 to June 2008) was 13 million bags, 7.8% higher than the total in the July 2006 to June 2007 period.
  
  
• Signature of International Coffee Agreement 2007 – Rwanda:  The Ambasador for Rwanda, H.E. Mr Gatete Claver , signed the 2007 Agreement at the ICO headquarters in London on 18 July 2008. Depositary notification
  
  
• Signature of International Coffee Agreement 2007 – Côte d’Ivoire:  Mr Saint-Cyr Djikalou, Permanent Representative of Côte d’Ivoire to International Commodity Bodies in London, signed the 2007 Agreement at the ICO headquarters in London on 18 July 2008.   
  Photo I Depositary notification
  
  
• Signature of International Coffee Agreement 2007 – Ghana: The High Commissioner for Ghana, H.E. Mr Annan A. Cato, signed the 2007 Agreement at the ICO headquarters in London on 11 July 2008.  Photo I  Depositary notification
  
  
• Coffee prices remained firm during the month of June, with a steep hike during the second half of the month. The ICO composite indicator price registered daily increases from 18 June till the end of the month, rising from 129,02 US cents per lb to 141,39 US cents per lb during this period. The increase was more marked in the case of Arabica prices, with the monthly average of the 2nd and 3rd positions on the New York futures market up from 137.03 US cents per lb in May to 143.59 US cents per lb in June. Coffee market report June 2008
  
  
• Signature of International Coffee Agreement 2007 – Guinea:   The Ambassador  for Guinea, H.E. Mr Lansana Keïta,  signed the 2007 Agreement at the ICO headquarters in London on 2 July 2008.  Photo I  Depositary notification
  
  
• Signature of International Coffee Agreement 2007 – Panama:   The Ambassador for Panama H.E. Ms. Liliana Fernández,  signed the 2007 Agreement at the ICO headquarters in London on 1 July 2008. Photo I  Depositary notification
   
  
• World coffee exports amounted to 8.1 million bags in May 2008, compared with 8.9 million in May last year.  Exports in the first eight months of coffee year 2007/08 (Oct-07 to May-08) have decreased 4.6% to 63.1 million bags compared to 66.2 million bags in the same period in the last coffee year.  In the twelve months ending May 2008, exports of Arabica totalled 62.4 million bags compared to 63.6 million bags last year; whereas Robusta exports amounted to 32.4 million bags compared to 34.1 million bags. Coffee Trade Statistics
  
  
• Signature of International Coffee Agreement 2007 – Honduras:  The Ambassador for Honduras, H.E. Mr Iván Romero Martínez, signed the 2007 Agreement at the ICO headquarters in London on 27 June 2008. Photo I  Depositary notification
  

• The Executive Director attended the Speciality Coffee Association of Europe (SCAE) Wonderful Coffee Copenhagen 2008 which took place in Denmark from 19 to 22 June 2008.  The event included an exhibition, a conference highlighting recent developments in the field of coffee, particularly the high-quality sector, and competitions such as the 9^th World Barista Championship.  In addition to representatives from the European coffee industry, the event was attended by participants from Japan and producing countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America. In his presentation, the Executive Director analysed the outlook for the coffee market and the specialty coffee sector.   The keynote speaker was Mr Gabriel Silva, Managing Director of the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia, who spoke about the importance of developing sustainable coffee practices in coffee production.   The SCAE is chaired by Mr Max Fabian and its Executive Director is Mr Mick Wheeler. 
   

• Signature of International Coffee Agreement 2007 – El Salvador:   The Ambassador  for El Salvador, H.E. Dr Vladimiro P. Villalta signed the 2007 Agreement at the ICO headquarters in London on 25 June 2008. Photo I  Depositary notification
  
  

• Signature of International Coffee Agreement 2007 – Indonesia:   The Ambassador  for Indonesia, H.E. Mr Yuri O. Thamrin,  signed the 2007 Agreement at the ICO headquarters in London on 25 June 2008.  Photo I  Depositary notification
  

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