The line graph compares the variation in the figure of exported coffee from three countries – Brazil, Colombia and Costa Rica – over a 10-year period from 2002 to 2012.
Overall, coffee exports followed a discernible upward trend in all three countries, although the magnitude and pattern of the rises differed markedly. Colombia and Costa Rica underwent the most serious changes, whereas Brazil recorded far more gradual unwing.
In terms of the two countries with the most unstable profiles, Colombia began at around 15 million kilograms in 2002, fell to about 7-8 million kilograms by 2006 and then experienced a rapid growth until 2012 with a rise of almost 10 million kilograms. Costa Rica showed a comparable end-point: starting at nearly 5 million kilograms, it increased to above 10 million kilograms within four years, thereafter declining steadily from this point to a low of just 2-3 million kilograms in 2008, the amount of exported coffee rebounded sharply to roughly 15 million kilograms by 2012.
By contrast, Brazil experienced a moderate growth. It started with about 12-13 million kilograms of exported coffee, have a small increase by 2006 to 15 million kilograms, and after had minor fluctuations between 2006 and 2010 with the constant rise until 2012 to almost 25 million kilograms in coffee exported