Fairtrade International releases 2012 - 13 annual report on “Unlocking the Power”

Fairtrade International’s 2012-13 annual report shows strong sales and continued consumer.

The report is based on the organization’s work in the past year on “Unlocking the Power” of producers and is highlighted by 16 percent growth in the total number of producer organizations compared to 2011.

Over 1.3 million farmers and workers in 70 countries are part of 1,149 Fairtrade producer organizations. In addition to sales income, these producer groups benefitted from around 80 million euros in Fairtrade Premium money for sustainability and development projects in 2012.

Consumer sales increased significantly in key markets, including: Germany (33 percent), the Netherlands (26 percent), Sweden (28 percent), Switzerland (15 percent), and the UK (16 percent).

Last year’s growth nearly completely offset the drop in total 2012 sales caused by Fair Trade USA’s withdrawal from the international system at the end of 2011. Excluding the USA, average sales in all other Fairtrade markets increased by over 20 percent compared to 2011.

 

Despite positive trends in consumer sales and an increase in Fairtrade producer organizations, many people are still beyond Fairtrade’s reach. The number of Fairtrade producers is just a fraction of the total number of producers around the world.

Spreading the benefits of Fairtrade is a cornerstone of Fairtrade’s three year  strategy, “Unlocking the Power of the Many.” Innovative projects aimed at enabling disadvantaged farmers and workers to run sustainable businesses and bring about change in their communities are being prepared for 2014.

Consumers showed their support for Fairtrade by spending 4.8 billion euros on Fairtrade products in 2012. Over 30,000 Fairtrade products are now sold in more than 125 countries  worldwide. 

Expanding Fairtrade to more consumers is also critical to “Unlocking the Power of the Many.” In 2013, Fairtrade products be came available in Kenya and will be available in India later this year, providing consumers in those markets the chance to buy Fairtrade products from Fairtrade producers in the same country.

The annual report can be downloaded from the Fairtrade International website.