Vietnam’s Coffee Exports Hit Record Levels and Set Sights on New Growth in 2026
Ho Chi Minh – Qahwa World
Vietnam has closed the 2024–2025 coffee season with unprecedented results, marking the highest performance in the history of its coffee industry. The country’s coffee export value reached USD 8.4 billion, according to the Vietnam Coffee and Cocoa Association (VICOFA), which held its annual conference on 24 October 2025 in Ho Chi Minh City, attended by representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, exporters, and local producers.
Data released by the association shows that from October 2024 to September 2025, Vietnam exported over 1.5 million tons of coffee—an increase of 1.8 % in volume and 55.5 % in export value compared with the previous season. The average export price reached USD 5,610 per ton, up 52.7 % year on year.
Europe remained Vietnam’s largest export market, accounting for about 47 % of total shipments—more than 710,000 tons—valued at over USD 4 billion. Within that figure, the 27 European Union countries represented 40.1 % of the total exported volume and 39.4 % of export value, reaffirming the country’s strong foothold in European markets despite tightening sustainability regulations.
Speaking at the event, Hoang Trung, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment, praised the industry’s achievements as a result of joint efforts among farmers, exporters, and government agencies to improve product quality and expand international market access. He reported that the total coffee cultivation area reached 731.9 thousand hectares, including 678.5 thousand hectares in production, while re-planted areas covered 20 thousand hectares, achieving 96.4 % of the national re-planting plan.
According to the deputy minister, favorable weather conditions and high coffee prices encouraged farmers to invest in intensive cultivation and rejuvenate plantations, leading to higher productivity and improved bean quality. Government estimates suggest that total coffee production could approach 2 million tons this year—an impressive achievement demonstrating Vietnam’s resilience amid global agricultural volatility.
A key highlight of the conference was the announcement that cooperation between VICOFA, government authorities, and international partners had resulted in the creation of a national traceability database covering 137,000 hectares of coffee farms, which is now being expanded to 462,000 hectares, or about 80 % of the total coffee area in the Central Highlands. Thanks to this initiative, the European Union has classified Vietnam as a “low-risk” country under the EUDR (Deforestation Regulation), requiring inspection of only 1 % of imported shipments. Trung described this classification as “a recognition of Vietnam’s transparency, accountability, and environmental responsibility within the coffee sector.”
He further noted that programs dedicated to specialty and high-quality coffee, as well as sustainable low-emission initiatives, have significantly contributed to increasing the added value of Vietnamese coffee and strengthening its brand identity on the global stage.
The report also showed that by mid-October 2025, Vietnam had already exported 1.27 million tons of coffee, valued at USD 7.21 billion—a 12.5 % rise in volume and more than 62 % growth in value compared with the same period a year earlier. This performance highlights a strategic shift from expanding output to enhancing value and quality, underscoring the success of Vietnam’s transformation from a commodity-based producer to a sustainability-driven exporter.
During the event, VICOFA projected that coffee production for the 2025–2026 season could increase by 10 % from the previous year if favorable weather continues. The association said that encouraging price levels had motivated farmers to increase investments in crop care and expand their cultivated areas, raising prospects for another strong season ahead.
Deputy Minister Hoang Trung outlined several key directions for sustaining growth and maintaining competitiveness:
- Expand sustainable production by adopting international certification standards such as RA, 4C, FLO, and C.A.F.E. Practices.
- Strengthen traceability and deep processing to reduce dependence on raw-bean exports.
- Adopt low-emission cultivation techniques to cut fertilizer and pesticide use and promote water-efficient irrigation.
- Diversify markets beyond Europe toward Asia and Southeast Asia, leveraging cross-border e-commerce opportunities.
- Promote the “Vietnam Coffee” brand in specialty segments through global marketing and participation in exhibitions and trade fairs.
- Foster stronger linkages across the supply chain—from farmers and cooperatives to processors and exporters—to ensure equitable and sustainable growth.
- Enhance awareness and compliance with import-market requirements, especially environmental and traceability regulations under the EU EUDR.
The conference concluded with a shared conviction among participants that, with its robust agricultural base, growing commitment to sustainability, and rapidly improving quality standards, Vietnam is on course to strengthen its position as one of the world’s leading coffee exporters. As the new 2025–2026 season approaches, the sector looks set for further expansion, higher value, and record-breaking achievements in the years ahead.
