2024/25 Asia Pacific Harvest: Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste

This article at a glance

• In parts of Indonesia, yields are down 15–35% due to La Niña-related weather.
• Papua New Guinea’s harvest is underway after a slow start to cherry ripening.
• Timor Leste’s harvest volume is up from last year, returning to typical averages.
• From nurseries to deforestation mapping, Sucafina sustainability initiatives are advancing across the region.

Indonesia

Expectations for Indonesia’s 2025/26 harvest are lower than last year, primarily due to weather. The return of La Niña has brought increased rainfall, which has affected flowering and fruit set and raised the risk of pests and disease. Additionally, the harvest is running slightly later due to a delayed start to the dry season. All of this has contributed to a forecasted decline of 15- 35% year-on-year (variable by region). While volumes are down, no major concerns have been raised so far on screen size or cup quality.

Indonesia’s harvest stretches year-round. In the North, the Arabica crop in North Sumatra and Aceh has just wrapped up and will resume in October. In southern regions, Robusta from Southern Sumatra and Java runs from late April through July. Arabica follows a west-to-east flow from West Java to East Java, Sulawesi and Flores, peaking between May and July.

This year, a foreign exchange policy has introduced additional complexity. Exporters must now hold 100% of USD revenue from export sales over $250,000 per bill of lading in a special account for 12 months. To work around this, many are limiting exports to one container per bill to avoid locking up working capital.

Sucafina has started to work with new farmer groups in Central Aceh who will supply our new Takengon milling facility, scheduled to be fully operational for the October harvest. These new groups complement our long-standing relationship with Ribang Gayo cooperative. Watch this space for news!

“We have been working closely with farmers to strengthen supply chains and expand our sustainability efforts in Indonesia,” says Daniel Shewmaker, Managing Director at Sucafina Indonesia. “The new Takengon mill is a big step forward, and we are excited about the impact it will have for the upcoming harvest.”

We continue to support IMPACT supply chains in Aceh and West Java, where farmers have received premiums from previous harvests, and ongoing support includes nursery development, compost production and training.

Other sustainability projects include supply chain deforestation mapping with a new focus on Robusta farms in Java, a completed carbon footprint baseline study, and nursery distribution in Java, Sulawesi and Flores, where 100,000 seedlings have already been delivered. Shade trees distributed in Kerinci and Aceh are maturing well and have been adopted by local farming communities. Aceh is the next region scheduled for the expansion of compost and nursery infrastructure.

Papua New Guinea

The 2024/25 Papua New Guinea harvest is running slightly behind schedule due to extended rainfall and a late dry season. Cherry ripening was slower in April and May but has now accelerated. The harvest is moving at full speed across major growing regions and is expected to peak and conclude by the end of June.

Harvest timing in PNG varies by region. In higher altitude zones such as Enga and the Western Highlands, picking began in February, peaked through March and April and has slowed in May. In the lower-altitude Morobe province, harvest started in January, peaked in March and tapered in April. In the Eastern Highlands, cherry picking began around late February, peaked in May and is now tapering through June.

“Farmers are working hard to make the most of this season,” says Kunal Lakhani, General Manager at Sucafina PNG. “Coffee prices have been strong over the past months which has encouraged many to return to some neglected plots and focus on maintenance and rehabilitation.”

This season, new key partners in Goroka have joined Sucafina’s sustainability program, improving conditions for farming communities in surrounding areas. The existing IMPACT supply chain remains active. To date, 691 farmers have received seedlings and participated in training.

Sustainability programs continue to grow. A nursery project funded by partners has distributed 50,000 seedlings, with plans to deliver 100,000 by the end of 2025. A water bore well project in the Lufa district coffee-growing area is underway and expected to be completed in June, supported through roaster-funded initiatives. Also, demonstration plots have been established across all our partners’ supply chains, to help implement regenerative agriculture techniques such as pruning, stumping and soil improvement, supported through partner-funded sustainability programs.

Timor-Leste

Timor Leste’s 2024/25 harvest is showing positive signs after a disappointing turnout last year. While estimating production is difficult, early field reports suggest volumes are up significantly. In some regions, yields are expected to be two to three times higher than in 2024. Last season’s crop was especially low, so this year’s figures are more in line with typical expectations. Current projections point to approximately 150,000 bags of Arabica and 58,000 bags of Robusta, with both harvests’ quality expected to be good.

The harvest began in the lowland regions in early May. Good quality cherry has started to come off the trees and activity is expected to peak through June, tapering off by late August.

“We’re back in the field this season with our key partners for both high commercial and specialty supply,” says Kyle Humphries, Trader & Specialty Coordinator at Sucafina Australia. “It’s early days, but we’re seeing solid potential already and looking forward to sharing more as the harvest progresses.”

If you’re planning to book coffees from Indonesia, Papua New Guinea or Timor Leste, it’s a good time to check in with your trader. They can walk you through what’s available now and what to keep an eye on as the season moves ahead.