USDA arm cuts Vietnam 2016-17 coffee output.

The USDA Foreign Agricultural Services has revised its estimate for Vietnam coffee production to 26 million bags (1bag=60kg) in 2016-17 (Oct-Sep) from 26.7 million bags due to unusual rains during harvest. Above-normal rains during Oct-Nov delayed harvest of the Robusta crop. Growers generally pick Robusta cherries from the end of October till January. Late rain starting in October through December 2016 did not only slow the picking and drying processes, but caused more physical damage to the beans. This situation also lowered the quality of the beans.