Headquartered in the Netherlands, Mercon is a vertically integrated global green coffee supplier. Mercon is among the leading coffee suppliers in the world and has extensive experience in farming, production, trading, marketing, logistics and risk management in the coffee industry.

With 65 years of experience, Mercon sources raw green coffee from major coffee-producing regions of the world (Nicaragua, Honduras, Brazil, Guatemala, Vietnam) and merchandizes and supplies coffee to leading coffee roasters on a global basis.

 The total amount of the Facility is estimated at USD 450 million, with a proposed IFC investment as a direct lender of USD 40 million.                                  

Nicaragua, Honduras, Brazil, Guatemala, Vietnam                                    

  This is a Category B based on IFC’s 2012 Policy on Environmental and Social Sustainability. The E&S risks and impacts associated with this project are limited, site-specific, and can be readily addressed through generally accepted mitigation measures described in this document. Mercon is committed to sustainably managing its farming, milling, storage and sourcing operations in compliance with countries’ applicable legal and regulatory requirements, IFC’s Performance Standards, applicable WBG EHS Guidelines (General, Perennial Crop Production, Food and Beverage Processing) and its own corporate policies.

Key E&S risks and issues associated with this investment relate mainly to (i) labor practices among smallholder farmers, including risks of harmful child labor, forced labor or significant supply chain safety issues and (ii) risk of ongoing conversion of natural and/or critical habitat to farmland used to produce the coffee. The E&S risk associated with the farms and mills’ operation relate mostly to occupational health and safety, resource efficiency and biodiversity conservation.