International Coffee Organization

What International Coffee Organization does

The International Coffee Organization (ICO) is the main intergovernmental organization for coffee, established in 1962 under the first International Coffee Agreement and headquartered at 222 Gray's Inn Road, London. It administers the International Coffee Agreement — most recently the 2022 ICA — for its 43+ member countries, which together represent both major coffee-producing nations (Brazil, Vietnam, Colombia, Ethiopia, Honduras, Uganda, India, Indonesia) and major consuming markets (EU member states, United States, Japan). Its highest authority is the International Coffee Council, which meets twice yearly, and the organization holds observer status at the United Nations General Assembly.

ICO's core products are data and convening assets rather than commercial goods: the monthly Coffee Market Report, the World Coffee Statistics Database, and the I-CIP (ICO Composite Indicator Price) function as the global benchmark for coffee market intelligence. It also publishes the flagship Coffee Development Report (the 2022-23 edition focused on the circular economy) and operates two digital platforms — the Coffee Sustainability Support Database (C2SD) for mapping sustainability initiatives and the Global Knowledge Hub for Coffee Public-Private Task Force (CPPTF) outputs. Additional programs include the Market Development Toolkit, International Coffee Day (October 1), and the quadrennial World Coffee Conference.

ICO's business model is member-funded: annual contributions are set by vote-distribution formulas under the International Coffee Agreement and paid by both exporting and importing member governments. Secondary revenue is generated through the ICO Shop, which sells publications and specialized market-statistics packages. The organization's go-to-market is diplomatic rather than commercial — it convenes stakeholders, publishes market intelligence, coordinates sustainability initiatives such as the CPPTF, and is leading the G7-endorsed Global Coffee Sustainability and Resilience Fund. Leadership comprises Executive Director Vanúsia Nogueira, Head of Operations Hannelore Beerlandt (effective March 2025), and the broader ICO Secretariat.

Name

International Coffee Organization

Legal name

International Coffee Organization

Website

https://ico.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1962

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The International Coffee Organization (ICO) is the main intergovernmental body for coffee, headquartered in London and founded in 1962. It administers the International Coffee Agreement among 43+ producing and consuming member countries, publishing the I-CIP price benchmark, market statistics, and sustainability reports for the global coffee sector.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Member Contributions: The ICO is funded through contributions from its member countries, both exporting and importing nations of coffee, based on vote distribution formulas established under the International Coffee Agreement.
2. Publications and Services: The ICO operates a shop selling publications packages and services related to coffee statistics, market reports, and specialized documents for the coffee industry.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The International Coffee Organization (ICO) is the main intergovernmental body for coffee, administering the International Coffee Agreement among its member countries. It delivers coffee market intelligence through monthly Coffee Market Reports and the World Coffee Statistics Database, publishes flagship reports such as the Coffee Development Report, and operates digital platforms including the Coffee Sustainability Support Database (C2SD) and the Global Knowledge Hub to coordinate sustainability initiatives across the global coffee value chain.

Product overview

The International Coffee Organization (ICO) offers a portfolio of data, publications, and digital platforms supporting the global coffee sector. Its core products include the monthly Coffee Market Report and World Coffee Statistics Database for market intelligence, complemented by flagship publications like the Coffee Development Report. The organization operates two major digital platforms: the Coffee Sustainability Support Database (C2SD) for mapping sustainability initiatives, and the Global Knowledge Hub for CPPTF outputs. Additional offerings include the Market Development Toolkit for educational resources and the International Coffee Day annual program. The products collectively serve ICO's mission to strengthen the global coffee sector and promote sustainable expansion.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Coffee Public-Private Task Force (CPPTF): An ICO initiative connecting governments, businesses, producers and civil society to strengthen policies, promote sustainable practices, and advance prosperity at origin.
• Global Knowledge Hub
• Coffee Sustainability Support Database
• International Coffee Day
• Coffee Development Report
• World Coffee Conference

Products and services

• Coffee Market Report

Quantifiable outcome

• 82.27 million bags exported in first seven months of coffee year 2025/26
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered secondary and core.

• RGC CoffeesecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 April 2026Participated in the World of Coffee San Diego panel hosted by ICO on regenerative agriculture and Responsible Business Conduct, contributing industry perspective on practical solutions such as agroforestry and composting.
• Mountain Harvest UgandasecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 April 2026Participated in the World of Coffee San Diego panel discussion on regenerative practices, representing producer perspective on sustainable coffee cultivation and economic value creation for smallholder farmers.
• CAFICO HondurassecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 April 2026Participated in the World of Coffee San Diego panel on circular economy and sustainable supply chains, contributing Central American producer perspective on regenerative agriculture implementation.
• Côte d'IvoirecoreOthers · 23 February 2026Côte d'Ivoire ratified the International Coffee Agreement 2022, reinforcing its commitment to multilateral cooperation and to a sustainable, transparent and resilient global coffee sector.
• HondurascoreOthers · 19 September 2025ICO signed agreement with Honduras to promote sustainability initiatives and market development cooperation in the country's coffee sector.
• Saudi ArabiacoreOthers · 19 September 2025ICO signed agreement with Saudi Arabia to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the coffee sector, expanding the organization's reach in the Middle East market.
• Centre for Circular Economy in Coffee (C4CEC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 September 2024Founding partner in the Center for Circular Economy in Coffee (C4CEC), co-organizing events such as the 'Sip, Savor, Sustain: Ethiopian Cascara' side event at the 22nd African Fine Coffee Conference. C4CEC works to promote circular economy practices and value-added products in the coffee sector.
• International Trade Centre (ITC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 September 2024Landmark collaboration partner in producing the Coffee Development Report 2022-23 'Beyond Coffee: Towards a Circular Coffee Economy.' ITC contributes through its Alliances for Action initiative and Coffee Guide Network, supporting sustainability and market development in coffee-producing countries.
• Lavazza FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 September 2024Founding partner and co-funder of the Coffee Development Report 2022-23 and Center for Circular Economy in Coffee. The Lavazza Foundation supports sustainable coffee cultivation and circular economy initiatives in the sector.
• Politecnico di TorinocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 September 2024Academic research partner contributing to the Coffee Development Report 2022-23, providing technical expertise on circular economy research and innovation for the coffee sector.
• UNIDOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerICO and UNIDO co-published the report 'Sustainability & Resilience of the Global Value Chain: Towards a Coffee Investment Vehicle' as part of joint efforts to foster sustainability and investment in the Coffee Global Value Chain.
• Global Coffee Platform (GCP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerICO and GCP signed a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate on coffee sector sustainability, market development, and coordination of sector-wide initiatives.
• African Fine Coffees Association (AFCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerICO and AFCA signed an MoU to strengthen collaboration on African coffee sector development, supporting the continent's coffee-producing nations through regional platforms and initiatives.
• International Women's Coffee Alliance (IWCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerICO and IWCA signed an MoU to promote gender equality and women's empowerment in the coffee sector, integrating gender considerations into sustainability and market development programs.
• University College LondonsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic contributor to the Coffee Development Report 2022-23, providing research support on circular economy topics in the coffee sector.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• International Cocoa Organization (ICCO): ICCO is the closest structural analog to ICO: an intergovernmental organization administering the International Cocoa Agreement, publishing global cocoa statistics and price indices, and convening producing and consuming member countries. Both organizations run on member-state contributions and focus on a single tropical commodity, with nearly identical governance and data dissemination models.
• International Grains Council (IGC): IGC is an intergovernmental body administering the Grains Trade Convention, publishing the IGC Grains and Oilseeds Index and market reports, and coordinating policy among importing and exporting members. Comparable to ICO in mandate, funding model, statistical product range, and multilateral convening role for a globally traded commodity.
• International Sugar Organization (ISO): ISO is the intergovernmental body for sugar, administering the International Sugar Agreement, producing global sugar statistics, and convening member governments. Operates the same membership-contribution model and statistical-publication model as ICO, serving as a direct sectoral peer.
• International Olive Council (IOC): IOC administers the International Agreement on Olive Oil and Table Olives, holds observer status at the UN, and serves producing and consuming member states through statistical and standard-setting work. Mirrors ICO's structure as an agriculture-commodity intergovernmental organization with regulatory and convening functions.
• International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC): ICAC is an association of cotton-producing and consuming governments that publishes world cotton statistics, market analyses, and trade policy guidance. Functions as a comparable intergovernmental commodity-knowledge body with a similar member-funded budget and statistical product portfolio.
• Common Fund for Commodities (CFC): CFC is an intergovernmental financial institution that finances commodity-sector projects in developing countries and works through international commodity bodies including ICO. Highly comparable institutional model and shared stakeholder base in tropical commodity producer countries.

Broad incumbents

• World Trade Organization (WTO): WTO is the broader multilateral trade policy body whose commodity-related work and member-state architecture set the framework within which ICO operates. Comparable as a multilateral convener with member-state funding, but covers all trade rather than a single commodity.
• UNCTAD: UNCTAD is the UN body covering trade, finance, and development for developing countries, producing commodities outlooks and convening intergovernmental meetings. Shares ICO's public-sector, member-driven, UN-affiliated structure but operates across all commodities rather than coffee specifically.

Emerging players

• Global Coffee Platform (GCP): GCP is the leading multi-stakeholder sustainability initiative for the coffee sector, with an active MoU partnership with ICO. Comparable through its coffee-sector sustainability coordination role and overlapping membership across producers, traders, and roasters, though structured as a non-profit rather than an intergovernmental body.
• Specialty Coffee Association (SCA): SCA is the largest coffee-industry trade association, setting standards, running the World of Coffee events, and representing roasters and cafes. Comparable as a sector-wide convening body with overlapping industry stakeholders, though privately funded and commercial in orientation rather than intergovernmental.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/ICOCoffeeOrg
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/internationalcoffeeorganization
• Facebookfacebook.com/ICOcoffeeorg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/international-coffee-organization
• Instagraminstagram.com/icocoffeeorg/?hl=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about International Coffee Organization