Coffee output in Vietnam seen falling after rain shortfall

Hanoi

COFFEE production in Vietnam, the biggest grower of robusta beans used by Nestle, is set to decline as a lack of moisture reduces yields from trees fatigued after a record harvest the previous year.

Output will probably slide to 1.65 million tonnes in the year started Oct 1, according to the median of 12 trader estimates compiled by Bloomberg. That's 3.5 per cent less than the 1.71 million tonnes a year earlier. A survey last month showed the crop would match that level.