Africa: U.S.$6.6 Billion Spent on Fairtrade Products in 2011

Around the globe, retail sales of Fairtrade certified products increased by a total of 12% in 2011. Figures released by Fairtrade International revealed that shoppers across the world have spent US$6.6 billion on Fairtrade products last year.

Despite the economic crisis, the established markets keep showing their support for Fairtrade. In the UK, Fairtrade's biggest market, shoppers spent 12% more on Fairtrade certified products than in 2010, while in the Netherlands, Fairtrade sales in stores and restaurants grew by 24%. Sales in the emerging markets are also taking off. South Africans are showing that south-to-south trade works as shoppers spent three times more on Fairtrade certified products in 2011 over 2010.

Sales grew steadily across all of the leading Fairtrade products: coffee by 12%, cocoa by 14%, bananas 9%, sugar 9%, tea 8%, and flowers by 11%.

Strong Fairtrade sales are great news for the more than 1.2 million farmers and workers across the globe. In addition to the income they earned from the sales, they received an extra €65 million in Fairtrade Premium, using it to invest in farm improvements, processing equipment, education and career training, community projects and healthcare.