Commodity Origins

Where do coffee, cocoa, sugar and cotton come from?

Softs covers cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, cocoa, coffee, pepper, sugar, tea, tobacco, vanilla. What moves them together: Tropical weather and disease, currency of the big exporter (real, cedi, rupiah), smallholder economics, stocks held by trading houses, certified stocks at exchanges.

Commodities in this category

Softs commodities with top producers and latest prices
CommodityTop producersLatest price12 months
Cardamom
An aromatic seed pod harvested green and dried; FAOSTAT counts it together with nutmeg and mace.
Cardamom: world production by countryShare of world cardamom production: Guatemala 39%, India 27%, Indonesia 21%, Rest of world 13%.Guatemala: 39%India: 27%Indonesia: 21%Rest of world: 13%Share of world cardamom production: Guatemala 39%, India 27%, Indonesia 21%, Rest of world 13%.
Guatemala 39%, India 27%, Indonesia 21% (2024)		——
Cinnamon
The dried inner bark of Cinnamomum trees, sold as true cinnamon from Sri Lanka or the cheaper cassia.
Cinnamon: world production by countryShare of world cinnamon production: China 38%, Vietnam 29%, Indonesia 23%, Rest of world 9.8%.China: 38%Vietnam: 29%Indonesia: 23%Rest of world: 9.8%Share of world cinnamon production: China 38%, Vietnam 29%, Indonesia 23%, Rest of world 9.8%.
China 38%, Vietnam 29%, Indonesia 23% (2024)		——
Cloves
Dried flower buds of a tropical tree, most of the crop going into Indonesian kretek cigarettes rather than food.
Cloves: world production by countryShare of world cloves production: Indonesia 74%, Madagascar 13%, Tanzania 4.3%, Rest of world 8.7%.Indonesia: 74%Madagascar: 13%Tanzania: 4.3%Rest of world: 8.7%Share of world cloves production: Indonesia 74%, Madagascar 13%, Tanzania 4.3%, Rest of world 8.7%.
Indonesia 74%, Madagascar 13%, Tanzania 4% (2024)		——
Cocoa
Fermented, dried seeds of the cacao tree, ground into liquor, butter and powder to make chocolate.
Cocoa: world production by countryShare of world cocoa production: Ivory Coast 36%, Indonesia 12%, Ghana 10%, Rest of world 42%.Ivory Coast: 36%Indonesia: 12%Ghana: 10%Rest of world: 42%Share of world cocoa production: Ivory Coast 36%, Indonesia 12%, Ghana 10%, Rest of world 42%.
Ivory Coast 36%, Indonesia 12%, Ghana 10% (2024)		$5.95/kg
Cocoa (ICE New York and London average)		-22%
Coffee
Seeds of the Coffea plant, traded green (unroasted) and then roasted close to where it is drunk.
Coffee: world production by countryShare of world coffee production: Brazil 30%, Vietnam 18%, Colombia 7.5%, Rest of world 44%.Brazil: 30%Vietnam: 18%Colombia: 7.5%Rest of world: 44%Share of world coffee production: Brazil 30%, Vietnam 18%, Colombia 7.5%, Rest of world 44%.
Brazil 30%, Vietnam 18%, Colombia 8% (2024)		$7.97/kg
Arabica (ICE New York, other milds)		-1%
Pepper
The dried berry of a tropical vine, the most traded spice by both weight and value.
Pepper: world production by countryShare of world pepper production: Vietnam 28%, India 14%, Brazil 13%, Rest of world 45%.Vietnam: 28%India: 14%Brazil: 13%Rest of world: 45%Share of world pepper production: Vietnam 28%, India 14%, Brazil 13%, Rest of world 45%.
Vietnam 28%, India 14%, Brazil 13% (2024)		——
Sugar
Sucrose crystallized from sugar cane (four-fifths of supply) or sugar beet; traded raw (No. 11) and refined white (No. 5).
Sugar: world production by countryShare of world sugar production: Brazil 22%, India 20%, Thailand 5.5%, Rest of world 52%.Brazil: 22%India: 20%Thailand: 5.5%Rest of world: 52%Share of world sugar production: Brazil 22%, India 20%, Thailand 5.5%, Rest of world 52%.
Brazil 22%, India 20%, Thailand 5% (2023)		$0.38/kg
World raw sugar (ISA daily price)		+3%
Tea
Leaves of Camellia sinensis, withered, rolled, oxidized and dried, then sold at auction or by contract.
Tea: world production by countryShare of world tea production: China 50%, India 19%, Kenya 8.2%, Rest of world 23%.China: 50%India: 19%Kenya: 8.2%Rest of world: 23%Share of world tea production: China 50%, India 19%, Kenya 8.2%, Rest of world 23%.
China 50%, India 19%, Kenya 8% (2024)		$2.91/kg
Average of three auctions		-4%
Tobacco
Cured leaf of the tobacco plant, traded green or processed into strip before it is made into cigarettes.
Tobacco: world production by countryShare of world tobacco production: China 37%, India 12%, Brazil 11%, Rest of world 40%.China: 37%India: 12%Brazil: 11%Rest of world: 40%Share of world tobacco production: China 37%, India 12%, Brazil 11%, Rest of world 40%.
China 37%, India 12%, Brazil 11% (2024)		$6,723/t
US import unit value, unmanufactured		-4%
Vanilla
The cured seed pod of a climbing orchid, hand-pollinated and cured over months; the second most expensive spice.
Vanilla: world production by countryShare of world vanilla production: Madagascar 43%, Indonesia 21%, Mexico 7.2%, Rest of world 28%.Madagascar: 43%Indonesia: 21%Mexico: 7.2%Rest of world: 28%Share of world vanilla production: Madagascar 43%, Indonesia 21%, Mexico 7.2%, Rest of world 28%.
Madagascar 43%, Indonesia 21%, Mexico 7% (2024)		——

Price index since 1960

Softs monthly prices, index 2010=100, Jan 1960 to Aug 2026Line chart of softs monthly prices in index 2010=100 from Jan 1960 to Aug 2026: Beverages index from 25.4 to 176.3, peaking at 240.4; Other food index from 16.4 to 118.8, peaking at 136.5.05010015020025019601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025index 2010=100
Beverages indexOther food index

Source: World Bank Commodity Price Data (The Pink Sheet), monthly indices, 2010 = 100, published 2026-09-02. CC BY 4.0.

Indices are monthly averages and lag the market; informational only, not investment advice.

Data updated 6 September 2026.