Vietnam is the world's largest Robusta coffee producer and one of its top two coffee exporters overall, and 2025 was a record year by a wide margin. The country shipped nearly 1.6 million tonnes of coffee worth US$8.92 billion, up about 59% in value on 2024, when exports were worth US$5.48 billion. Volume rose only about 18%, which tells you where the jump came from: price.
If you buy, trade or analyse coffee, it helps to know what is hiding inside that headline: how much is Robusta, how much is processed, who buys it and how the records describe it. This guide covers HS codes 0901 and 2101, Robusta versus Arabica, the key markets and price trends. To find suppliers, go to Vietnam coffee export data, or read our earlier guide on how to find Vietnamese coffee suppliers using trade records.
Vietnam Coffee Exports: Key Numbers
| Measure | Figure | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Coffee exported | Nearly 1.6 million tonnes, up 18.3% | 2025 |
| Export value | US$8.92 billion, a record, up 58.8% | 2025 |
| Robusta exports | US$6.59 billion, 73.8% of value, up 57.4% | 2025 |
| Processed coffee exports | US$1.78 billion, the highest on record | 2025 |
| Record month | 193,000 tonnes worth US$1.08 billion | February 2025 |
| Average export price | About US$5,661 per tonne, up 39.7% | January to November 2025 |
| Exports and price | Close to US$1 billion in one month, average about US$5,450 per tonne | January 2026 |
The pattern across 2025 is unusual. In the first half of the year volume was nearly flat while value jumped about 67%, because prices climbed fast. In the second half volume recovered, and December shipments reached about 180,000 tonnes, up about 41% on a year earlier.
HS Codes for Coffee
Coffee sits mainly in HS heading 0901. Instant coffee and coffee-based preparations are classified in chapter 21, so a complete search needs both.
| HS code | What it covers | Typical products |
|---|---|---|
| 0901.11 | Coffee, not roasted, not decaffeinated | Green Robusta and Arabica beans, the main export code |
| 0901.12 | Coffee, not roasted, decaffeinated | Green decaffeinated beans |
| 0901.21 | Coffee, roasted, not decaffeinated | Roasted beans and ground coffee |
| 0901.22 | Coffee, roasted, decaffeinated | Roasted decaffeinated coffee |
| 0901.90 | Coffee husks, skins and substitutes | Husks and coffee substitutes |
| 2101.11 | Extracts, essences and concentrates of coffee | Instant and freeze-dried coffee |
| 2101.12 | Preparations based on coffee extracts or coffee | 3-in-1 mixes and coffee premixes |
Robusta vs Arabica
Vietnam's coffee is overwhelmingly Robusta, grown mainly in the Central Highlands. Arabica is a much smaller crop, grown at higher altitude in areas such as Lam Dong and in the northern mountains. The two differ in taste, caffeine and, above all, price, and in early 2025 the gap between them was about US$3,000 per tonne.
| Feature | Robusta | Arabica |
|---|---|---|
| Share of Vietnam's 2025 coffee export value | 73.8% (US$6.59 billion) | A small part of the remaining balance, with processed coffee and other types |
| Flavour | Strong, bitter, higher caffeine, used for espresso blends and instant coffee | Sweeter and more acidic, used in specialty coffee |
| Where it grows | Central Highlands, such as Dak Lak and Gia Lai | Higher areas such as Lam Dong, and northern mountains |
| Price level | Lower | Roughly US$3,000 per tonne higher in early 2025 |
| Main buyers | Roasters, blenders and instant coffee makers in Europe and Asia | Specialty roasters |
Who Buys Vietnamese Coffee
Europe is by far the biggest buyer. Germany is the leading market, taking roughly 16% of Vietnam's coffee exports, and its imports of Vietnamese coffee more than doubled in 2025 to over US$1 billion. Italy and Spain follow, with Japan and the United States among the next largest. Mexico grew fastest of all Vietnam's 15 key markets, with export value up 13-fold in 2025, though from a small base.
| Market | Share of exports | Growth in 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | About 16.3 to 16.6% | Value doubled, over US$1 billion |
| Italy | About 7.9 to 9.4% | Up about 52% |
| Spain | About 7.4% | Up about 41.5% |
| Japan | About 8.2% | Steady and growing |
| United States | Next largest | Brazil still dominates supply |
| Mexico | Small | Up 13-fold, the fastest of 15 key markets |
Shares vary slightly by period. The ranges above come from the first two months of 2025 and the first half of 2025.
Reading Coffee Terms in a Shipment Record
| Term in the record | Meaning | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Robusta Grade 1, Grade 2 | Quality grade by defects and moisture | Grade 2 is the standard export grade, Grade 1 costs more |
| Screen 13, 16, 18 | Bean size | Bigger screen means larger beans and a higher price |
| Black and broken | Share of defective beans, for example 5% | Lower defects mean better quality |
| Washed, wet-polished | Cleaned processing method | Higher price than natural-dry Robusta |
| Specialty, fine Robusta | High-quality lots | Premium price, small volume |
| Instant, freeze-dried | Processed coffee | Falls under chapter 21, not 0901 |
| 60 kg bags, bulk liners | Packing | About 19 to 20 tonnes per container |
How to Search the Coffee Records
- Search HS 0901.11 for green coffee, and 2101 for instant and preparations.
- Add keywords such as "Robusta Grade 2", "screen 16", "washed" or "specialty".
- Group by exporter and rank by tonnes and value.
- Check the buyers. Exporters selling to Germany and Italy usually meet demanding quality standards.
- Compare price per tonne for the same grade, screen size and shipping terms.
- Verify the company with our guide to checking a supplier before you contact them.
What to Watch in 2026
- Price stability: January 2026 prices were around US$5,450 per tonne, still far above the 2024 level.
- Processed coffee: record exports of US$1.78 billion show a move toward instant, roasted and ground coffee.
- New markets: Mexico and other countries are growing quickly, helping diversify away from Europe.
- Specialty Robusta: fine Robusta and specialty lots are gaining traction with roasters in the United States and Europe.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the HS code for coffee?
Green coffee is 0901.11 and roasted coffee is 0901.21. Instant coffee falls under 2101.11.
How much coffee does Vietnam export?
Nearly 1.6 million tonnes worth a record US$8.92 billion in 2025.
Is Vietnam's coffee mostly Robusta?
Yes. Robusta made up 73.8% of coffee export value in 2025, with the rest mostly processed coffee and a small amount of Arabica.
Who is the biggest buyer of Vietnamese coffee?
Germany, followed by Italy and Spain.
Search Coffee Export Data
Ready to find coffee exporters? Open Vietnam coffee export data to search HS 0901 and 2101 by exporter, buyer, grade and price per tonne. If you need help matching a grade to the right record, send us an enquiry.
Disclaimer: Vietnam Import Export Data provides shipment records and trade datasets. We do not buy or sell any products. For purchasing or selling enquiries, please contact the importers and exporters listed in our datasets.
