| Germany is Vietnam's largest coffee importer. China is increasing its coffee imports from Vietnam. |
According to the General Statistics Office, in July, coffee exports reached 70,000 tons, a decrease of nearly 36% compared to the same period in 2023. For the first seven months of 2024, Vietnam's coffee exports totaled 964,000 tons, a decrease of nearly 14% compared to the same period last year. Export value reached US$3.54 billion, an increase of 31% compared to the same period last year. The high export value, despite the decrease in volume, is due to the consistently high coffee prices since the beginning of the year.
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| Coffee imports are primarily for processing (Illustrative image) |
To meet export and domestic consumption needs, businesses are forced to import coffee from neighboring countries such as Indonesia, Laos, Thailand, Brazil, Belgium, etc. This was predicted in late April 2024 at a meeting of the Vietnam Coffee and Cocoa Association.
The Vietnam Coffee and Cocoa Association explains that Vietnam has been importing coffee for many years, as well as other agricultural products (rice, cashews, etc.), primarily for processing and export. For example, Vietnam imports green coffee beans from countries with lower prices, or from varieties that Vietnam grows in limited quantities due to climate and soil conditions, such as Arabica coffee. Vietnam imports this type of coffee from Laos because their selling price is lower than in Vietnam. Arabica coffee is only grown in a few regions domestically, so the quantity is limited, while this high-quality variety must be imported for consumption.
As for processed coffee, in recent years the domestic coffee chain system has developed, and many foreign coffee brands have established chains throughout major cities in Vietnam. Therefore, these coffee chain businesses largely import processed coffee such as roasted and ground coffee and instant coffee.
On the export side, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development , coffee is one of the commodities with the highest export surplus, reaching $3.43 billion and the highest growth rate, at 32% compared to the same period in 2023 after the first 7 months of 2024.
Globally , coffee prices, especially Arabica coffee prices, continue to decline due to pressure from the progress of the new crop harvest in Brazil.
Brazil had completed 81% of its 2024/2025 coffee harvest as of July 23rd, faster than the 74% at the same time last year and ahead of the five-year average of 77%. Meanwhile, the amount of graded Arabica coffee held on the New York market increased by 2,495 bags on the last trading day of the week, reaching 814,801 bags.
For Arabica coffee specifically, Brazil has completed 75% of its harvest, faster than the 65% at the same time last year and faster than the 5-year average of 69%. For Robusta coffee, 95% of the new crop has been harvested, faster than the 89% at the same time last year and faster than the 5-year average of 93%.
Source: https://congthuong.vn/dat-top-dau-xuat-khau-viet-nam-nhap-khau-ca-phe-de-lam-gi-336134.html
